Almond Tree collapsed to their fourth league defeat on the bounce after throwing away a 3-1 half time lead against JML Plumbing Sunday morning.
The yellows, still searching for their first win, came flying out of the blocks right from kick off and needed only five minutes to take the lead. Richard Stewart piled pressure on the JML keeper, blocking his clearance before the ball fell to Jack White just inside the box, who kept his composure superbly to slot the ball in-between two JML defenders and into an empty neat to score his third goal of the season.
In a superb flowing move a few minutes after, White laid the ball out wide to right winger Jaydee Fox, who whipped a delightful cross on to the head of Richard Stewart, who buried his header into the bottom corner. It was a fine piece of play, only for linesman to raise his flag, wrongly denying Stewart the goal he deserved.
Almond Tree doubled their advantage shortly after, as a long punt forward from keeper' Bridge was flicked on by striker White, before JML's centre back needlessly nodded the ball back into Richard Stewarts path. Stewart made no mistake when through on goal, calmly chipping the ball over the onrushing keeper' to make it 2-0 with no linesman needed to rule this one out.
The game took a sour turn following the goal, as a 10 minute spell of filthy challenges followed. Bartaby luckily escaping with just a warning for a two footed lunge (or slip as he claimed) and JML winning a couple of direct free kicks on the edge of Almond Tree's box which they were unable to turn into goals.
The aggression Almond Tree conveyed would eventually let JML back into the game. After a through ball from a JML midfielder, centre half Mandeep Basra put in a perfectly timed challenge on the JML striker, denying him a chance on goal. In a decision only the referee will know how he made, a penalty was awarded. Almond Tree were incensed, although their complaints fell on death ears, and JML's number 8 made no mistake placing his penalty into the bottom left hand corner.
Almond Tree's two goal cushion was restored shortly after the penalty. Picking the ball up on the far left, Jordan Gascoyne put an absolute peach of a ball into the box for Richard Stewart to glance in at the far post.
The two goal cushion wouldn't last long past the half time whistle, as a mad 25 minutes in the second half threw the game right in JML's court.
Shortly after the restart, JML pulled one back, making it 3-2 as their striker capitalized on the space left open at the back, racing through unmarked to slot in.
Only around 10 minutes later they were level. Attacking down the right hand side, number 17 found himself just inside the box, firing at goal. Bridge got a strong palm to it, however it wasn't enough as it made its way just under the bar and in.
Almond Tree responded well, creating a number of chances where they really should have regained the lead. One being a cross from Sub Ryan Armitage, finding an outstretched Mark Gentleman, who completely miskicked his opportunity.
JML surprisingly completed the turn around, taking the lead with just around 20 minutes remaining. Working a long throw in to the box, the JML midfielder beat sub James Brown in the air, flicking the ball on for it to land to an unmarked JML player 1 yard out, who couldn't miss.
Almond Tree tried to get back into the game, squandering two excellent chances which both should have given them the win they deserved. The first falling to Ryan Armitage. Playmaker Rhys Legate putting a superb ball over the top for Armitage to run on to, one on one, only for his effort to be blocked by the JML keeper.
The final chance of the game fell to Harrison Riseley, as Almond Tree worked a throw in on the right, the ball came across goal, falling to Riseley just inside the box, sitting up perfectly for him. He did well to hit the target, if only with more power it would surely have been the equaliser the yellows were warranted.
It's now five games in and Almond Tree stay bottom of the pile with one point.
