Match report
UFC 1
Beacy 2
To maintain our slim chances of a second place finish we needed to get back to winning ways against a side sat third from bottom, we managed this courtesy of a 2-1 win.
Few changes to the squad who drew the previous week, Roberts & Davies missing, replaced with rodriguez and searing. Lining up in a 4-3-3 formation with rodriguez and O'connor partnering Ryan Coker in the forward positions. Shaun Coker, Piercey and Douglas in the midfield 3 with the ever dependable Pete moving into the back 4.
The game started with Beacy in disarray and we're lucky to not be caught out from kick off with our players stood around talking on the edge of our area, the opposition pushed forward quickly, but there attack came to nothing. Once settled down from the earliest of wake up calls we assumed control of the game and played some nice football at times, albeit it as with previous weeks as tendency to over play or select the wrong final ball was our Achilles heel. It's fair to say that half chances were the name of the game and we couldn't take them, with players become increasingly fruastrated with each other and the ref. Having been on the end of a couple of fouls, that were not given Wingfield was booked for using what the ref deemed abusive language(harsh in my opinion). The half continued and with the ref making one or two strange decisions, King of the yellow cards Ryan Coker entered the referees note book for the third time in four weeks, following a tight offside call. Little in the way of clear cut chances were coming for either side, Ryan seeing a couple of shots blocked, the second of these prompted a heated discussion between him and Shaun, as to wether a shot should of been taken as apposed to a lay back to the edge of the area where team mates were waiting. 5 minutes before half time Douglas went down with an injury that caused concern, the midfield man enjoying a fine game up to this point, following a couple of minutes treatment he was deemed fit to continue. Half time was soon called in what had been a drab first half 0-0.
Second half began with the same personnel, with a strong bench the lads needed to produce something quickly to avoid early changes, to their credit following a scrappy first 10 minutes of the second half our quality shone through, firstly a the lively rodriguez won the ball and fired wide from an angle, this was our warning shot and a minute later Piercey linked up with Ryan Coker who brushed his defender aside and poked the ball past the keeper 1-0, cue the big striker racing over to lift ups his shirt revealing a message about 'Jon Jo shelvey' to his manager. A deserve reward for the team who had been the better side up to this point, the goal settled us down and we had an excellent spell and 8 minutes later doubled our advantage a good team move working its way to mike O'connor who steered home his third of the season 2-0. Changes were made for both sides, and one of our subs olly gray was unlucky not to score having run from the half way line with the ball beating several men before firing over . Searing on as a sub also had two good chances firstly heading over from a rodriguez cross before firing narrowly wide from the edge of the area. UFC created a good chance with 10 minutes to go only to be denied by a superb pete Ebberson challenge. Minutes later and with the clock ticking down the ball was played up field, with wilkinson seemingly in control he got fouled by the UFC striker who proceeded to put the ball in the net, the ref to everyone's surprise awarded the ï¸goal despite the clear foul 2-1. We comfortably saw out the last couple minutes to record a vital win.
Not pretty at times, but we did enough to win by a wider margin. Need to take more of our chances and make better decisions in the final third. That said will take a win anyway we can get it at the moment, and this sets us up nicely for the run in.
Man of match - Jason Douglas.
Ratings
Chris summers - 7
Phil Wingfield - 7
Pete Ebberson -7
Matt Gunnell - 7
Mark bumpstead - 7
Jason Douglas - 7.5
Shaun Coker - 7
Jonny Piercey - 7
Javi rodriguez - 7
Mike O'connor - 7
Ryan Coker - 7
Subs
Tom wilkinson - 7
Olly gray - 7
Paddy searing - 7
