As can be expected from a team playing for only the second time this year we started this match slowly, struggling to find any rhythm or retain possession. However once we reached the midway point in the half we were beginning to move the ball around well and putting the opposition under a little pressure. This pressure paid off when on 25 minutes a good move down our right led to Iggy Crouch shooting from the edge of the box. His shot took a big deflection off a defender, which completely wrong footed their keeper who was unable to stop the ball rolling over the line. This acted as a catalyst as we continued to boss things and were now beginning to use out left hand side as well. With about 10 minute to go to half time a corner from our right was headed back across goal for Ben Brooker to nod home from about 6 inches. The game was now as good as over, however some sloppy play from Lee when dealing with a back pass led to a Southborough player robbing him, however he failed to put the ball into the empty net when hurried into his shot by the sight of the covering defender. This should have acted as a warning, however with barely a minute to go before half time we tried to retain possession when we could have cleared our lines a couple of times. This led to us being robbed of possession and the opposition pulling a goal back.
We started the second half well without extending our lead. Mark Wyles being guilty of the worst miss, when sending a header over, when unchallenged from only a yard. Alan and Jamie were introduced after 15 minutes in an attempt to blitz the tiring Southborough defence with their pace in addition to Ben's. This proved successful when Alan nodded home at the far post, after a good interchange of passes down our right. Just after this our job was made easier when a Southborough player retaliated to a late tackle from Lewis and was sent off. However we failed to make the game safe by failing to take numerous chances and allowing Southborough to score a soft second goal. This made the last 10 minutes more nervous than they had to be.
This win takes us up to 7th with games in hand over those sides closest to us. Next up is a double header against Frant, with the full six points required.
Team:
L.Thomson
L.Drury
T.Crouch
T.Bowyer
R.Cornish
M.Rice-Tucker
K.Waterman
I.Crouch
R.Taylor
B.Brooker
M.Wyles
Subs:
A.Evans (for K.Waterman)
J.Bush (for M.Rice-Tucker)
J.Austin (for L.Drury)