MASONS ARMS...1 BOYTHORPE...6
With just 7 league games left, it was important for the Blues to bounce back from the dismal display from last week. And they made no mistake when they came up against 3rd in the league Masons Arms at Highfield Park today. Benny had to make a couple of changes, as he restored to the more conventional 4-4-2 formation. Captain Dean Brown and striker Kevin Widerman were both left out and Lee Wright moved into central midfield, with Lee Walton taking his place in the forward line.
They started the game kicking downhill on a narrow, bumpy pitch, that was well in need of the grass cutting. The first couple of minutes were too simillar to last week with the players a little lethargic, and very quiet, but they won a corner on 2 minutes,which Wright flashed inches wide with a glancing header. At the other end a throw by Masons had to be dealt with by Furniss as he pushed the effort away. The blues took the lead on 7 minutes, a good move saw Scott Bennett's persistance win a throw in for his team, Lee Walton jinked the ball across to Lawrence, who's scuffed shot, fell into the path of a well placed SCOTT BENNETT who lashed his shot high into the net for 1-0. A now inspired Boythorpe went close again on 10 mins, a great team move ended with Lee Walton firing just wide. The ref had to reach for his card on 12 mins, Masons won a free kick that went wide, as the visitors wall did its job, much to the annoyance of the Masons midfielder who aired his gums a little too vigerously and was punished for his outburst.
On the quater hour a great tackle by Lawrence set Paul Walton free, he in turn found Megyesi who's mazy run into the box ended when he was crowded out. The hosts found themselves on equal terms on 17 mins, Hardy lost his footing when making a tackle, hitting the ball against the Masons striker, who went on and slipped the ball past the advancing Furniss. Hardy again put Masons through on 21 mins, a flicked back header to Furniss left the keeper woefully short, and the striker nipped in knocking the ball past the stranded keeper, but the ball went agonisingly wide of the goal. Boythorpe‚ then got to grips with the game and a great passing move between Walton and Wright saw the ball fall to Lawrence, who's shot was gathered by the grateful keeper. And he was busy again on the half hour when a run and shot by Walton saw him gather the ball at the second attempt.
Lawrence went close at the other end as half time approached, causing his keeper to push the ball against his own crossbar with a mistimed back header. HALF TIME Masons Arms...1 Boythorpe...1‚
Benny made a tactical "double" substitution at half time, convinced that the advantage lie with kicking up the slope with the breeze behind them. He brought on Higginbottom to replace Bonson, who was suffering with pains in the muscles in the lower leg, and Miles came on for Lawrence, who was badly short of match practice, and attacked straight from the restart. A great run up the left wing by Megyesi, left the defender in his wake, he clipped the ball forward to Scott Bennett, but he unfortunatly miscontrolled the ball and the chance was lost. Paul Walton was next racing clear and winning a corner. The lead wasnt far from coming however, and on 49 mins, Shane Bennett won control in the middle and put through a peach of a pass to MEGYESI, who lost his marker before smashing in an unstopable shot past the keeper. Within a minute it was 3-1, PAUL WALTON won the ball in the middle, and did all the work himself, before shooting across the keeper into the far corner of the goal. A crazy 3 minutes for the visitors came to an end when PAUL WALTON again found the net for the visitors, when Wright played him in with a cool through ball and he did the rest with a fine finish.
Wright found himself in the refs notebook on 57 mins, he worked himself into the hosts penalty box but went over, the 2 players traded words but it was just Wright who found himself in trouble. Just past he hour Scott Bennett held the ball up well, before playing Megyesi in again, but he failed to make the chance count. Bennett himself had a chance a minute later but he put the shot just wide. For long periods Furniss was a spectator, but was alert when called upon, and the game was NEVER in danger for the Blues. Walton who was on for a hat trick found himself substituted on 73 mins, when‚ Whitehead came back into the fold. Furniss found himself busy on 76 mins, punching the ball clear, despite being under pressure. And was busy again 2 mins later, when he gathered a ball into the box as Masons at last had a bit of the play.
Boythorpe made the game safe on 80 mins, Scott Bennett AGAIN held the ball up well just inside the Masons half, before playing in LEE WALTON who raced forward before finishing will his usual flair for 5-1. Shane Bennett then found himself with a caution for dissent with just 5 mins to go. But made ammends in the final minute, taking a quick throw in to brother Scott, who controlled the ball, before playing in leading scorer WRIGHT who beat his man a fired home. Mason's had issue with the goal and drew the bookings count level as one‚ of the defenders argued too vigerously. Boythorpe take a break from League action next week, and take on Woodthorpe Inn (ex Royal Oak Tupton) from Division 7 in the Mlll Hutson Cup @ Somersall Park. FULL TIME Masons Arms...1 Boythorpe...6
