Two quick fire goals early on in the second half of this match resulted in a welcome win for the reds following the worst run of defeats ever known to the club in recent weeks. The fact that we deservedly kept our first clean sheet of the season was a real psychological boost for us, and a wonder goal from striker Pete Sweeney topped off a hard won battle for 3 important points.
This was a match we knew we really had to win if we were to keep pace with the leaders in the division, and it has to be said that that every player involved did his bit as we produced a good standard of football in difficult weather conditions. We were out of the traps quickly with Peacock slipping a great pass to Page who won us an early corner.
Then a good ball from Dickinson set up Robinson who put in an accurate shot which the keeper held well. Hoghton replied with a rasping shot which Sielski did well to tip over the bar for a corner. The Cadley keeper was in action again shortly after, blocking goal-bound effort with Mercer eventually clearing the danger forcefully. Then Tracey showed great skill on the left by beating the right back before sending in a perfect low cross and Robinson missed a great chance to open the scoring when he just failed to connect properly with the ball.
On 25 minutes we found ourselves stretched at the back with just 2 Cadley defenders up against 3 Hoghton forwards and Mercer did well to rescue the situation conceding a corner on the right. We hit back and won a corner and Peacock’s kick was well taken by the keeper with Jepson challenging strongly. Winger Page was then yellow carded by the ref for taking out Hoghton’s left winger and soon after Tracey also saw yellow for a strong challenge, the official indicating that the winger had stamped his opponent.
We then carved out a great chance on the left with Robinson crashing a powerful shot against the left post, the ball then running wide to Page on the right and he squared to Peacock who set up Kilbane, but the midfielder’s shot went high and wide of goal .The half ended with the ref playing a good advantage in favour of Hoghton, and that resulted in Sielski leaping away to his right to turn the ball around the post.
The second half opened with a goal of real quality. We won a throw in on the right and Clarkson slung in one of his specials which was headed on well by Robinson, and SWEENEY with his back to goal found the net with a spectacular overhead kick with the Hoghton keeper firmly rooted to the spot.
Minutes later the game was sewn up for Cadley when the ball came over from the right from Page, and this time Sweeney returned the favour by chipping the ball up neatly for ROBINSON who nodded in at the far post for 2-0. Sweeney went close again minutes later when he burst through the Hoghton offside trap and fired a powerful shot just over the bar from 25 yards.
Tracey then had the ball in the Hoghton net but yet again the linesman’s flag was up for offside and soon after, the left winger was out of luck with a fierce shot which just cleared the bar. At this point we seemed to look very comfortable on the ball with Peacock pulling all the strings in midfield and Hoghton only spasmodically posing any threat on the Cadley goal. It was Peacock who had a great chance to increase our lead on the hour mark when he controlled the ball well before firing over the bar from the edge of the area, and then Robinson forced a very good save from the keeper with a stinging shot.
The closing stages of the match saw Leeming replacing Tracey on the left and Kaye making a rare appearance up front for Sweeney. The game ended with Sielski tipping a dipping shot over the bar, the ref blowing for time seconds after the flag kick.
So a really welcome 3 points and played 7 won 5 lost 2 sounds and looks much better that played 7 won 4 lost 3 which would have been the situation if we had slipped up today.
We are now second in the table, only one point adrift of Acregate. A much better team performance today and we looked way sharper playing on a wide pitch with wingers Tracey and Page enjoying the space that was available and both putting in excellent performances. The back four looked very composed and solid, the midfield looked well organised and both strikers did their job with a goal apiece.
Player of the Match today really picked itself with JOHNNY PEACOCK well in command at the heart of the midfield, holding the ball up expertly, spraying around some accurate passes and generally showing the type of leadership that has been sorely lacking in recent matches. We are at home to Canaries next week. Keep your eye on the website for more details.