NEWBOLD WHEATSHEAF....2 BRITANNIA F.C.....5
It was back to league matters for the Brit after the 8-2 drubbing of White Swan Res in the Derbys Junior Sunday Cup last week. With the Ref failing to turn up, Brits Manager Benny took up the whistle with the approval of both teams. On a pitch in very good condition both teams made a lively start with Wheatsheaf carving out a good chance on 4 mins, but the effort flew over the bar. At the other end a great move between the returning Mitchell and Bonson saw a good chance deflected for a corner. Mitchell finding Brown with the set-piece but the winger fired over.
Cupitt then made a hash of a ball out, but fellow defender Miles made a fine saving tackle. Britannia took the lead on 12 minutes, Bennett's fine run got him into the hosts box, before he forced the defender into a rash tackle, and an easy decision for the ref. MITCHELL stepped up and drilled the spot kick low into the left hand corner for 1-0. The ref was in the spotlight 5 minutes later when a 30 yard rasper cannoned off the underside of the crossbar and behind the line, but Benny didnt shirk his responsibillity and awarded the goal. Wheatsheaf were spurred on by this and went close in the 19th minute with another long range effort fizzing just wide.
For the next 10 minutes or so, it was a very even contest and after 27 mins Miles was caught out with a ball over him, but Wheatsheaf fired AGAIN just over when well placed. They were dangerous again on the half hour, whipping in a low ball across the 6 yard box that was narrowly missed by everybody The hosts regretted not taking advantage of the pressure they were putting on the visitors and were made to pay on 34 mins after Mitchell cleverly LOBBED the keeper as he raced from goal, only to find a well placed defender on hand to head away for a corner. It was however only a momentary respite as from a quickly taken corner by Wright, he found MITCHELL who curled a spectacular shot at pace beyond the diving keeper.
Whitehead lost his footing trying to make a tackle out on the right setting the Newbold winger free, but he wasted his opportunity. On 40 mins the home keeper made a fine double save, first from Mitchell, then as the ball rebounded to Bennett, he was there again to smother the shot. On 43 minutes Britannia raced into a 3-1 lead, Wright won the ball before feeding BENNETT who took the ball on before curling an unstoppable shot into the net from 25 yards out. HALF TIME Newbold Wheatsheaf...1 Britannia F.C...3
Higginbottom replaced Cupitt at the break as the young defender contiued to recover from the bad cold that has dogged him for a couple of weeks. On 48 mins a good ball set Brown free but as he set to shoot the ball took a nasty bobble and the chance went. The home keeper was having a fine game despite the score and made several good saves, including one on the hour from Goodwin. Whitehead went close with a stinging shot from 35 yards out flashing just wide. The game burst into life on 72 mins a terible crunching tackle on Mitchell saw the front man square up to the miscreant and things threatened to boil over as one or two others joined in. When the mist cleared Benny yellow carded both players. The hosts grabbed a lifeline on 75 mins an error at the back saw them reduce the arrears, but it was only temporary as when the home keeper made a hash of a throw out only finding the lively Wright who's cross saw WALTON latch onto the ball before rounding the keeper and prodding the ball home.
Two minutes later Mitchell went close to grabbing his hat-trick when his smart lob crashed off the bar. On 85 mins Taylor came on for Whitehead to break up the play and with time running out it was WALTON again grabbing the Brits FIFTH, Shane Bennett's persistance won the ball 30 yards out before finding the in form striker who clipped the ball in off the far post for another THREE glorious points for the Britannia. FULL TIME Newbold Wheatsheaf...2 Britannia F.C...5
