Newly promoted Casuals and Pelham played out a 2-2 draw with newly relegated Sawbridgeworth Brewery. With no referee assigned for this game, each side agree'd to take responsibility of refereeing a half each. Sawbo Brewery started the brighter of the two sides as Pelham were yet to get in the game for the early stages. The home side got in behind a couple of times and threatened to break the deadlock early on. However it was the away side who did break the deadlock against the run of play. A long kick from Dan Monk in the Pelham goal was misjudged by a Sawbo Brewery defender and Dan Arran was able to get the slightest flick on, which was pounced on by Steve Callan who slotted the ball past the keeper. However that goal didn't change the face of the game too much and Pelham once again found themselves under pressure and on the back foot. Pelham didn't help themselves by not playing their usual game and everytime they cleared their lines the ball would come straight back at them. However they almost doubled their lead as for only the second time in the game, Pelham got in behind, this time through Steve Willett on the right hand side, who played an early ball across the box which was met by Liam Perry who's shot was saved at point blank range by the goalkeeper. Sawbo again reacted from that and continued to keep the pressure on Pelham. The score was equal once again on the 19 minute mark as a corner was whipped in by Brewery unexpectedly to the near post where Dan Monk was caught off guard and his punch couldn't quite keep the ball out. That goal was the kick up the arise that Pelham needed and although they were probably on the back foot for most of the first half, they started to build into the game and calm down a bit, slowly getting themselves playing the football they know they can play. The rest of the half was played out between the two sides and the score was tied at 1-1 when the whistle blew. The second half saw a change in the wind and this time it was Pelhams turn to be the team on top. The away side didn't start the quickest but again gradually built into the half and after five minutes or so started to find their passing game and kept the ball well. However much like the first half, the next goal came against the run of play as Brewery got their second goal of the game. Again from a corner the ball was whipped in to the front Pelham post which Dan Monk was wise to this time clearing the ball down to his left, but unfortunately the rebound bounced back off Doug Hazell as he was tracking his runner and the ball unluckily span over the line. Pelham could have felt some injustice about that goal but swiftly moved on and continued to push on for their second goal of the game. That response came just five minutes later as the away side got in behind again and produced a good save from the Brewery keeper, only for the ball to break to Dan Arran on the edge of the box and he struck the ball first time into the back of the net. Pelham deserved their equaliser and with half hour or so left in the game they continued to push on for a winner. They pressed Andy pressed and came close Tom coring on a few who occassions with Dan Arran, Steve Callan and Dan Boyce. However they couldn't find that final finishing touch and the result finished 2-2 with a draw overall probably being a fair result, however Pelham can feel annoyed that they couldn't find a third goal to knick the game. Not our best performance but much better in the second half. A point in the end not being a bad result and with teams only getting two points for a win it doesn't drop us that far behind the couple of teams above us in the league. A close call this weekend for man of the match and although me and Mick agree'd on the two nominee's we backed a different one. Micks man of the match this week goes to Steve Willet who's energy, commitment and work rate helped gain this point, very closely followed by Doug Hazell who was solid and organised at the back, making some vital challenges and interceptions.
