Britannia F.C...4 Ace Of Clubs...1 (Played @ Hilstown M.W. Ground)
Britannia registered their SEVENTH league win on the bounce, after moving this home fixture up to Hilstown to avoid a fixture pile up. Played on a hard, bumpy, dry, uneven pitch, Britannia had the best of the early exchanges, with Megyesi, Brown, Mitchell, Wright and Scott Bennett all going close in the first 5 minutes. AoC had their first chance of any note after 7 minutes after a ball was played over the defence, but the striker rushed his shot and lashed the ball well wide of the goal. Brown went close on 10 minutes, but he saw his effort cleared off the line. The same player had a run on goal moments later, but he shot inches wide.
As the game wore on it looked only a matter of time before the blues would make the pressure count, and after a mazy, long run by Mitchell, the striker was unlucky to lose control before he could get his shot away. On 23 minutes the deadlock was broken, a fine clearance by Miles, picked out BROWN, who carried the ball on past his marker, before slipping a crisp shot past the keeper for 1-0.
On the half hour Hardy had to make a smart, instinctive save down to his right, blocking a hacked clearance by Whitehead towards his own goal, and saving the young lads blushes. Britannia contiued to press and create chances, only to be thwarted by the AoC keeper who was having a blinder. A ball put over into the box by Mitchell was the making of the 2nd goal on 40 mins, Wright missed the original chance, but his dogged determination won Brits a throw in, from this there was a scramble in the AoC penalty area, before the ball fell to GOODWIN 15 yards out and his scruffy, bobbling shot found its way into the bottom corner of the net. Ace nearly grabbed a lifeline moments later, Brits were slow at the back picking up, and a rasping 30 yard drive sailed inches wide. At the other end a Mitchell ball into the air was tipped onto the bar by the keeper and another scramble ensued, but the ball was hacked clear. HALF TIME Britannia F.C..2 Ace Of Clubs..0
Britannia kicking downhill in the 2nd half continued the good work of the first half, and were rewarded within 5 mins of the re-start, a fine run by Brown, saw the winger cross low into the box winning a corner for the Brits. Bennett crossed in by the near post and WRIGHT was on hand to glance the header in via a defender to register his 15 of the season. Megyesi then linked well with Mitchell, before the striker fired inches wide. Ace then grabbed a foothold on the game, a move up the right wing sawMiles unluckilly diverting the ball past his own keeper, to blot what was an otherwise WELL DESERVED M.O.T.M. performance. It was only a minor setback for Britannia however, because on 58 mins Scott Bennett's strength on the ball won a corner, Mitchell put the corner kick in and MEYESI stooped to head the goal from a massive 8 inches out. The AoC keeper was at his best AGAIN seconds after the restart making a fine diving save at Bennetts feet and tipping the chance over.
Robbie Cupitt made a welcome return to the action at full back, replacing Whitehead on the hour, and soon getting into the game making a fine blocking tackle as AoC threatened again. On 72 mins Brown, HAD HE scored, IT would have been a contender for goal of the season, a fine floated corner kick by Mitchell was met sweetly with a rasping volley, but the keeper was well placed to grab the effort. Within a minute a free kick saw the ball drop to Scott Bennett, but his shot was well saved by the keeper. AoC went close with 15 left, but the shot went well over with the guy well placed to score. Taylor came on for Goodwin with 12 left and put in his usual robust performance that Benny has come to expect from the fine young prospect. As the game came to a close the bet of the chances came when a player cut inside Cupitt, but he lashed the effort wide. FULL TIME Britannia F.C....4 Ace Of Clubs....1 This result puts Britannia 6 points clear in 2nd place, but Holmebrook Taver NOW have a game in hand, and all in all its going to be a BUSY month for Britannia with THREE Thursday night games.
