A much better performance by Boythorpe, they controlled the game at the start and kicking downhill with light drizzle falling, took the game to the hosts. They could've been rewarded as early as the 3rd minute when a quick run and cross by Shawcroft eluded the front pair of Wright and Widerman. on 5 mins good work by Widerman finding Bonson out on the wing and his cross was put just wide by the lively Shawcroft. Ace of Clubs put thier first meaningfull chance together after 10 mins, but was thwarted by Higginbottom. The hosts were then unlucky on 13 mins when Whitehead failed to clear his lines and the ball fell to a AoC striker inside the box, his first effort hit a post, and his rebound chance struck the crossbar before being hacked clear. The blues then had a great chance on 16, Potter caught a throw in that was arrowed into his box, the quick thinking stopper found Shawcroft down the middle with a first time throw out, and the midfielder raced towards the home goal, he unfortunatly took too much time, and was robbed as he was poised to shoot. The clearance was not dealt with by Hardy as he allowed the ball to go under his foot, and the AoC striker put away his chance neatly for 1-0. Goodwin shot just wide on 20 mins after good work out on the wing by the industrious Bonson had found him in space. Bonson himself fired wide a minute later, and Brown went close as Boythorpe looked to draw level. Higginbottom almost caught the keeper out with a smart cross on 26 mins, and Bonson thought he had broken through 2 mins later, but his goal was ruled out by a VERY DUBIOUS LINESMANS DECISION. Boythorpe continued to bombard the home goal, and BONSON drew the visitors level when a great crossfield pass by Hardy found Higginbottom who in turn pushed the ball down the wing for him to work an opening between the home defence and send the ball bobbling past the keepers despairing dive. As the game reached half time Whitehead was unlucky not to connect with a Shawcroft corner, and Shawcroft himself was unlucky when a pinpoint cross by Bonson was scissor kicked towards goal only to be cleared by a defender, from the break AoC looked dangerous before a crunching Goodwin tackle brought the danger to a close. HALF TIME Ace Of Clubs...1 Boythorpe..1
A strong cross wind sprung up during the half time interval, and this coupled with a more determined effort by the home side soon had the visitors in trouble. On 47 mins a corner was only pushed clear by Potter to the edge of the box, the keeper superbly saved the first effort, but the ball went back to the same striker who made no mistake with the rebound. Only 5 mins later and Boythorpe were undone again with a similar effort as Potter did well to push a corner away under great pressure, only to find a lurking striker who finished the chance easilly. Boythorpe 10 minute of self destruct got worse as the usually reliable Hardy tracked back at a free kick and inadvertantly played the striker onside, giving him chance to take the ball on and beat Potter all too easilly as AoC threatened to run riot. Things got worse for the visitors as midfield king pin Dean Brown had to be substituted as he suffered a recurrance of his knee problem that had kept him out for a few games. On 68 mins Phil Lawrence who was returning from injury replaced the out of sorts Hardy at the back as Boythorpe pushed to reduce the arrears. Good work by Lawrence 3 mins later was unlucky not to be rewarded as he found Wright in space, but the striker missed a chance that another day would have put away with ease. Mick Cartwright was lucky not to be shown a yellow card after a heavy challenge out on the flank. And Wright summed up the sort of day he had, had as he was cautioned seconds after the final whistle sounded. FULL TIME Ace Of Clubs...4 Boythorpe...1
