For the second game running, a late change of venue failed to knock a classy Boythorpe off thier stride. Benny had a strong squad to pick from following the 4-1 mauling of Highfield last sunday, for the division 8's sides toughest test against a team a MASSIVE SIX divisions higher in Inky F.C.
Kicking uphill in the 1st half on a muddy, cut up, bumpy pitch the Blues went straight on the attack, forcing back the Inky back four. The first chance of any note, came after 4 mins, when last weeks MOM and captain Dean Brown worked himself a bit of room and his shot went just over the bar. At the other end Inky broke clear but the attack was ended with a smart clearance by Phil Lawrence. On 8 mins a good run by Widerman won Boythorpe a corner crossed in by Bennett, finding Whiehead, whose header was cleared for another corner. The same pair linked again but this time Whitehead put his header just over.
Boythorpe continued to be very busy and a Brown cross was just too strong for Wright, with Widerman going close seconds later. The Blues were given a warning of how dangerous Inky could be giving away a free kick 30 yards out, from the kick the Inky midfielder ghosted in at the back, but headed tamely at Potter, only to find the ref ordering a retake from the correct spot, this chance was put wide. Boythorpe however found themselves under more pressure soon after from a throw in, but the shot was well blocked by Whitehead. Another free kick in the same area on the quater hour saw the direct shot SUPERBLY pushed round the post by Potter. Inky's persistaince was rewarded on 20 mins, Brown wanted a bit too much time and found himelf robbed of the ball, and the Inky striker lobbed the ball smartly over Potter and into the net.
Boythorpe pushed forward again, and a clever ball over the Inky defence by Walton, was fired just over by Wright. On 25 Bennett found Brown in a lot of space but he pulled his shot inches wide. Straight back at the other end, and Potter had to be quick to turn a goalbound cross shot round the post at full stretch. Boythorpe got the break they deserved on the half hour, a perfectly weighted pass by Brown released WIDERMAN, who although on his weaker foot, curled a superb shot beyond the keeper and into the top corner of the net. Right on half time Boythorpe could have snatched a deserved lead when a Bennett shot won a corner, the same player took the kick that was flicked up at the front post by Wright onto the onrushing Whitehead but again he couldnt keep his header down, and Inky survived. HALF TIME Inky F.C...1 Boythorpe..1
Benny swapped Furniss for Potter in goal for the second half, and he was soon busy as a corner into the box caused havoc but was grabbed by the grateful keeper. At the other end pressure by Walton saw a defender knock the ball directly back to the keeper who picked up the ball, but the claims were waved away. A Brown free kick was headed away for a corner, taken by Bennett, which Wright narrowly missed throwing himself in for a diving header. Minutes later Higginbottom replaced Lawrence at full back, and it nearly drew instant reward, as a long ball by the sub found Bonson who's 1st time cross found Wright coming in, but his shot flashed just wide. Inky themselves were unlucky after 53, a free kick to the back post evaded the defenders and was headed back across goal onto the post, and into the waiting Furnisses gloves.
Good play by Walton down the right after trading passes with Miles saw a first time ball into the box miss Wright by inches, but was fired high and wide by the waiting Bonson. On 53 mins Boythorpe took the lead they had long deserved, Walton lifted the ball over the Inky defence for WIDERMAN to run onto, the linesmans flag was ignored by the ref and the ball was slipped neatly past the advancing keeper. Widerman almost grabed his hat-trick a minute later, another Walton cross was scissor kicked by Widerman, and Wright put his effort again inches wide. Bettney came on for Widerman to pour more pressure on Inky, within seconds the sub weaved past a couple of players to find Bennett, who's stinging shot was tipped over the bar.
Midway through the 2nd half Inky again drew level, a ball headed out from defence, was picked up 35 yards out, the player beat his man and lifted the ball beyond Furniss, who had no chance. Within 3 mins Inky began to take control and a fine save by Furniss from a cross shot kept the scores level. Down at the other end Wright and Bonson exchanged passes, and won yet another corner. This inspired Boythorpe, and they took the lead again with 15 mins remaining, a free kick by Brown picked out BETTNEY on the edge of the box, he beat a defender before clipping a wonderful ball across the keeper and into the far corner for 3-2.
As Boythorpe began to tire, Higginbottom made a rash challenge, just inside the box and the ref pointed to the spot for what was the FOURTH penalty in 5 pre-season games. The spot kick was SMASHED down the middle, but Furniss, although diving the wrong way got his fingers to the ball, but the shot was too powerful. Boythorpe of old would have been effected badly by this setback, but the teamwork and belief Benny has instilled into the team pushed them forward, and they finished the stronger side, and it was no suprise when they snatched a well deserved winner with just TWO minutes remaining. A corner by Bettney found its way to WALTON lurking just outside the box, he steddied himself before cracking an unstoppable shot high into the net, this was just reward, not only for a great all round TEAM performance, but for Lee personally who had been subject to a few niggles as the game drew to a close. FULL TIME Inky F.C...3 Boythorpe...4
