It wasn't just the weather that was damp yesterday morning as another poor Almond Tree display saw them concede defeat away to JML Plumbing and Heating.
You could have been forgiven for thinking the Almond Tree defence had stayed in bed, as took JML only 5 minutes to take the lead. As a free kick came into the box, Almond Tree failed to clear their lines, and a neat one-two from two JML players around Pybus saw them in on goal, with the JML striker finishing coolly into the corner.
A second followed shortly after, with Almond Tree trying to play their way out of trouble, a misplaced pass from winger Riseley went straight to a JML player, who hit a superb diagonal ping into his team’s striker, who controlled, and stroked the ball into the net.
A third goal in the first 30 minutes really put Almond Tree to the sword, as JML worked it well in to the box, with their midfielder finding time to trap the ball around the penalty spot, before scooping the ball over stand-in keeper Townhill.
Frustrations started to boil and on the 40th minute, Centre half Rory Stewart found himself in a tussle with a JML player inside the box, eventually pulling him down with the referee pointing to the spot. After a short spat between both teams, JML eventually dispatched their penalty to seemingly put the game beyond doubt.
The phrase 'a game of two halves' was never more apt as Almond Tree finally decided to wake from their slumber for the second half. They put together some impressive moves, creating some decent chances after neat link up play between Legate, Richard Stewart and Gentleman. They pulled a goal back through top scorer Jack White. He somehow found himself through on goal, hitting his shot straight at the keeper, before collecting the rebound and rolling the ball into an open net.
A second should have followed almost immediately after, as a great one-two again from Legate and Stewart lead to Legate finding the back of the net, only for the linesman to rule it out - not for the first time this season for legate.
A cruel own goal, something that’s fast becoming an Almond Tree trademark, then came fortunately for JML. As the ball was played long, over the top, Jordan Gascoyne tried to hook the ball away, only to end up lobbing his own keeper, and finding the net. It was undeserved for JML however they now found themselves a flattering 5-1 up.
The Almond Tree captain for the day, Legate, would eventually get his reward for an impressive display. Finding space inside the box, he chopped the ball back as a JML defender slid in, with the ball catching the defenders arm. The referee pointed to the spot and Legate despatched it - twice - after his first attempt had to be retaken due to Riseley running into the box too early.
JML completed the 6-2 rout late on, as a corner came in, they won the header first and scored.
