Britannia F.C...5 AFC Angel...1.
Britannia stormed to thier EIGTH league win on the bounce against a spirited Angel side at Somersall Park today (sunday). Benny kept faith with Hardy between the sticks, with Higginbottom returning at Full Back in place of the un-available Bonson. The Blues had the best of the early exchanges going close within a minute of the start, a Shane Bennett free kick was lofted to the back post, where Megyesi unfortunatly was unable to control his header and the ball went safe. They continued to press and Megyesi went close again with a spectacular over head kick after a quickly taken short corner involving Bennett and Mitchell. Angel went close on 10 mins, a long kick by the keeper caught out Whitehead with the bounce, but the striker fired well wide.
Angel were forced into a substitution on the quater hour after the striker was left in agony with a back injury, after an ariel challenge saw him land awkwardly on the half way line. Despite lengthy treatment by the Referee and Britannia Manager Benny, the lad was unfortunatly, unable to continue. Wright went close as Britannia pushed forward again, when Higginbottom played him through, but the striker was well tackled just outside the box. Britannia then, unable to capitalise, went through a poor phase of play. First a miskicked clearance by Higginbottom saw Hardy have to make a fine save, blocking a goal bound effort.
Hardy, however was at fault moments later for Angel taking the lead on 23 mins. A free kick from way out by the touchline was allowed to drift into the net over his head, after he had clearly called keepers ball. Brown went close with a smart volley just before the half hour, but the keeper made a spectacular point blank save to thwart him. On 32 minutes however,it was payback time, Megyesi,s hard work set DANNY BROWN free, he glided past his marker before lifting his shot over the keeper and into the net, despite Jez Mitchell trying to "DO A MEGGO" and stooping to head home, but the ball beat him over the line and although he protested it was his goal the Ref pulled him short and said "if he had headed it in, he would have been OFFSIDE"!!. Within 3 mins Britannia had took the lead, Mitchell floating a sublime free kick to the back post where HIGGINBOTTOM ghosted in to knock the ball home. Hardy came racing from his area like an Inter City 125 on 40 mins to clear the ball..and attacker, forcing Angel into thier 2nd substitution after the player had to leave the field. Hardy, however was almost caught out again with another free kick but it drifted wide this time. HALF TIME Britannia F.C...2 AFC Angel...1.
Britannia, kicking downhill started to take control of the the game, going close a number of times, but while they were unable to cement the lead, Angel were always dangerous on the counter attack. Dean Brown made a welcome return to the team on 57 minutes, slotting in the back line replacing Whitehead. His influence was immediate as he found Megyesi with a pass, his fine run and cross was flicked on by Scott Bennett, controlled, and lashed home by JEZ MITCHELL for 3-1. Brown was on hand again to collect the ball before zipping a fine pass again to Megyesi, but the winger lost control of the ball. Scott Bennett went close just after the hour after being played through, but he fluffed his shot, and the keeper gathered the ball.
Hardy then threw the ball out to Mitchell, he in turn, after a strong run put over a cross that Wright tried to convert with an over head kick. That turned out to be his last contribution of the game as after 67 mins he was replaced by Paul Walton in attack. Again it brought instant dividends for Britannia, Dean Brown picking out Shane Bennett in midfield, he in turn sent CRAIG MEGYESI clear, and M.O.T.M. for today, did the rest with a smart finish. 4-1 became 5-1 with 20 mins remaining, a great team move sent Danny Brown free, his superb cross picked out JEZ MITCHELL, and he steddied himself before smashing the ball past the keeper for his 26th goal of the season. This rubber stamped the win for Britannia, and it was becoming one way traffic. Chances came and went, the keeper thwarted Walton, Bennett, Goodwin with great saves, and one particular clearance off the line from the unfortunate Paul Walton after 83 mins. Cupitt replaced Steve Miles at the back just previous to this, slotting in well at the back, and there was just time for Britannia to make a superb defensive display, with a number of players putting themselves in the way during a goalmouth scramble in the final minute. FULL TIME SCORE Britannia F.C...5 AFC Angel...1
