Britannia F.C...1 Brampton Rovers Reserves...0.
A Craig Megyesi goal just before the half hour, settled this hard fought encounter, and pushed Britannia to the top of the league, 2 points clear of favourites for the title Renishaw M.W. The hosts were quick out of the blocks for a 2nd game running, having 2 guilt edged chances within the first 30 seconds. Both fell to Scott Bennett, who was really unlucky to see his cheeky flick pulled back from just in front of the goal line by the grateful keeper, and then to see another effort blocked as the visitors were all at 6's and 7's. Wright fired another chance over after 4 mins, and then the keeper had to race out of his box to clear as Scott Bennett again had been put through.
Slowly but surely Brampton started to wake from thier slumbers, but were still under a lot of pressure, Megyesi lashing a shot wide on 17 mins. The 1st real chance of note for the visitors was a long range effort, but it fizzed just wide. Wright lost the ball in midfield, but in thier haste Brampton fell into the offside trap. A free kick given away by Higginbottom in a dangerous area drifted wide as Brampton began to fashion a few chances, and Furniss had to be on hand to make a good save as they began to trouble the hosts. Brampton were left screaming for a penalty as Furniss made a timely clearance, clearly making contact with the ball, but causing a player to go over in the box. after a slight altercation, the keeper was yellow carded.
Britannia took the lead at just the right moment, a free kick from the half way line, but well out on the wing, was floated in dangerously to the back post, where MEGYESI was lurking, he reacted first and lobbed the ball over the keeper and into the net. This took the wind out of the visitors sails for a time, and they began to fall for the offside trap in thier eagerness to find an equaliser. The game was held up on 34 mins when a Brampton player recieved a crack on the nose, but he continued after treatment. Then a good chance from a free kick was wasted. Britannia went close to adding to the lead on 43 mins, Megyesi missed his shot, then Scott Bennett fired wide. Then right on half time a Megyesi cross was headed just wide by Wright. HALF TIME Britannia F.C...1 Brampton Rovers Reserves..0
A few words of wisdom at half time from Manager Benny, who replaced Whitehead for the slightly more pacy Bonson, as Britannia looked to push on more kicking downhill. It almost drew dividends as they went close from the kick off, a great ball by Walton picked out Megyesi who's shot was pushed away by the keeper. Then a Bonson clearance fell too short but the Brampton player shot wide. Walton tried a 40 yard rasper after being played in by Bonson, but the keeper dived full stretch to push away. On 53 mins Higginbottom recieved a harsh yellow for a tackle on the Brampton winger.
A late challenge on Wright saw a free kick drifted in by Higginbottom, and the striker got on the end of it to turn, but just put his effort narrowly wide. With just 20 minutes left of a nervy encounter saw the best move of the game from the hosts, Shane Bennett floated in a superb ball that left the keeper stranded, but Walton fired just over when well placed. A fine double save from the visitors keeper on 78 mins saw a low drive palmed away by the keeper for Megyesi to shoot, but the keeper pushed that effort for a corner.
As the time began to run out another corner from Shane Bennett was headed wide by Captain Shaun Goodwin when it looked easier to score. The referee added a couple of minutes at the end, but Britannia hung on to make it 13 League WINS ON THE TROT a great performance by ALL the players who have been called upon during the past couple of weeks, and all we can do it just wait and see what happens over the last 3 weeks of the season.
