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 Posted - 30/10/2006 : 13:51:45
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28-10-06 Sport Italia Hellenic Premier
Almondsbury Town 2 Witney United 3 Att 70
United produced a battling performance in Bristol to seal the points and become the first side to win at Almondsbury this season. The home side went into the match sitting top of the table and Spencer Keyes opted to start the game with Christian Perkins at the heart of the defence.
Inside 30 seconds and United were indebted to Paul Tassell when he produced an excellent low stop to deny Justin Bishop after a near post cross from the lively Adam Cole.
On seven minutes though United broke the deadlock with a goal that in truth was a gift from the home keeper. A free-kick by Jamie Cook looked to be too deep but inexplicably Sam Pearce dropped a straightforward looking catch and Ben Border gratefully prodded the ball home.
This settled United and although the tackles were fast and furious from both sides they were playing the better football and Pearce had to be alert to stop a stinging drive from Cook from 25 yards.
On 21 minutes though the home side levelled with the combination of Cole and Bishop again at the heart of it. A tremendous cross by Nick Tiley was met by Cole and although Tassell produced an excellent stop the ball broke to Bishop who whilst on the ground forced the ball over the line.
With the game heading to the interval all square we had one of those freak goals and it went in United's favour. Matty Shelton collected the ball at left back before hitting an inswinging cross towards the back post and the run of Keyes, however the ball evaded Keyes but also keeper Pearce and nestled in the far corner of the net.
Half-time Almondsbury Town 1 WITNEY UNITED 2
United came out looking determind to kill the game off and produced some excellent chances at the start of the half. Some good work by Border on the left wing saw him cut the ball back to Stuart Douglas who beat his man but his drive was palmed away by Pearce.
Border was at the hub of things again when a cross to the back post found him but he opted to force the ball goalwards with Keyes screaming for the ball in the centre.
On 58 minutes United got the third goal their efforts deserved and what a goal it was. A scything challenge by Marcus Mapstone on Douglas saw a free-kick awarded which Cook quickly knocked out wide to Border who fired an inviting cross into the area and there was Keyes to outsmart the defence and tuck the ball away.
The game had an edge to it all afternoon but the referee seemed more intent on booking players for dissent rather than challenges and Bishop could count himself very lucky not to have seen red for a dreadful challenge on Perkins having already been yellow carded.
With three minutes remaining this decision came back to haunt when Bishop collected the ball on the right wing before delivering an inviting cross which was met on the volley and excellently guided in by Richard Kerr.
United were left facing an anxious few minutes but in truth dealt with it very comfortably and when the final whistle sounded the travelling support, players and management alike celebrated an excellent three points.
Website review and Man of the Match
What a difference 7 days makes!! We stood up, battled, dealt with everything that was thrown at us and got three points our performance certainly merited. Almondsbury were much improved on last season and the game had a real cup tie feel about it. MOM was tough call as there were some tremendous performances but just nicking it was Christian Perkins who was superb at the heart of United's defence. |
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Almondsbury Town v Witney United - 28/10/2006
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