BRITANNIA F.C....4 WHITE HART SPARTANS F.C....2
Following on from the fine 16-0 and 3-1 away victories, Britannia took the field for the FIRST home League game of the season. They got off to the best possible start as well, good work by Whitehead and Wright, saw a fine shot by Dean Brown pushed away by the keeper in the first few seconds. The corner was swung in by Shane Bennett and Red Lion struggled to clear their lines and in doing so gave away another corner. Bennett swung it in again and DEAN BROWN rose to power the header home with just 1 min 15 seconds on the clock.
The Brit went close again just 2 mins later, a fierce goalbound shot appeared to be handled on the line but the ref waved the appeals away. Furniss had to be alert after just 6 mins, Mitchell was fouled way up the pitch and elected to take the free kick himself but the Lion came away with a sweeping move downfield but were thwarted by Furnss racing from his goal. Disaster struck however on 7 mins for Britannia when talisman midfielder Dean Brown fell awkwardly from a tackle on the half way line injuring his knee and he was replaced instantly by Goodwin.
Britannia went further ahead after 10 mins from another corner when Whitehead won the attempted clearance just outside the box, he forced the ball back into the danger area and the ball found MITCHELL on the far post and he poked the ball home from 3 yards out.
Spartans got themselves back into the game on the quater hour against the run of play from yet another corner. Britannia made a hash of defending the set piece and the striker ghosted in on the back post and squeezed the header home. The comeback however lasted just 2 minutes, Cupitt won the ball just inside his own half then Goodwin and Shane Bennett traded a fine one-two in the middle before feeding the ball to Scott Bennett whose shot as parried by the keeper to the waiting WRIGHT who smashed the ball high into the net for a well deserved 3-1.
Britannia capped a breathtaking 20 minutes adding a FOURTH moments later, a clearance upfield by Cupitt saw a defender get into a terrible mix up with his keeper, nodding the ball past him whilst under pressure by Wright MITCHELL ran onto the loose ball and stabbed the ball into the empty net. Furniss was caught unawares when he picked up a back pass giving The Spartans a free kick in a dangerous area, but it came to nothing. A Danny Brown cross was headed over by Megyesi from yards out as Britannia pushed forward again, but it was Spartans who narrowed the scores again just 10 mins from the break. A long throw wasnt dealt with and the lad climbed to nod the ball home. Both sides had ONE decent chance each as time ran out to the break. On 41 mins a fine run and cross by Megyesi was headed just wide by Scott Bennett and at the other end on 44 another long throw was met by a shot but the ball sailed well over Furniss's bar. HALF TIME Britannia F.C....4 White Hart Spartans...2.
Britannia pushed on again after the break, a fine run and shot saw the ball cleared off the line after just 15 seconds of the half, and soon after a free kick by Mitchell was fired just over by Danny Brown. Moments later a great run and pass by Shane Bennett saw Megyesi's shot hit a defender, but the game from there began to get disjointed and niggly. Spartans began a few spoiling tactics and Britannia fell for them culminating with a heavy foul on Mitchell after 65 mins. Instead of turning the other cheek and just accepting the free kick Mitchell pushed his opponent away and gained himself a silly caution.
On 70 mins another Mitchell free from 30 yards sailed just over and chances became fewer and fewer as the game was punctuated with stop start patches. Red Lion however were NEVER out of the game and the Britania defence had to be on their toes as they threatened to come back into the game, The game eventually fizzled out giving the Brit another 3 points meaning that THEY and Renishaw M.W. are the ONLY two teams with a 100% record in division 7. MOTM award was Craig Megyesi who despite not getting on the score sheet kept the Red Lion defence busy all morning with surging wing play. FINAL SCORE Britannia F.C...4 White Hart Spartans...2
