Catsfield had to wait almost a month until they could try and build on their recent away win at Northiam. Saturday saw Tackleway visit the Catsfield Rec for the second time this season. Originally meant to be an away game, the fixture was switched to the Rec after several failed attempts to get the game played at Barley Lane. The Cats were looking to settle a few scores after the 8-1 home spanking they took in the first fixture between these two back in December.
Team News
An influx of returns meant manager Tony Luke could name arguably his strongest bench of the season as well as only naming two changes from the win over Northiam.
D. Champion continued in goal with one of the two changes made in defence. Swain and Pistol slotted in at left and right back with the returning Graham partnering Rawlings in central defence - work commitments meant Newman could only make the bench.
The only other change from the win over Northiam was in central midfield as Gurr replaced Paffett as he partnered Rollison in central midfield. Booth operating down the left and Bradbury slotting in at right midfield.
Harris partnered Luke up front for the second successive game as both looked to add to their goal tally for the season.
A return from injury for White saw him take his place on the bench along with Newman and Thomas.
Stalemate
The Cats could count themselves lucky not to concede in the opening seconds as the Tackleway striker found himself one on one with Champion - his shot across goal skimming just wide. That chance settled the game down somewhat with the next goal scoring chance not coming for another 20 minutes. A long ball from Champion was flicked on by Harris to the onrushing Bradbury - his first time shot was well saved by the Tackleway goalkeeper though.
Tackleway almost took the lead on the half an hour mark as a corner from the right led to a goal mouth scramble, a visiting midfielder tried an audacious overhead kick which bounced back off the crossbar and the resulting rebound was prodded just wide by another Tackleway midfielder.
The visitors would have been a goal to the good 5 minutes later if not for an outstanding save from Champion. The Tackleway striker finding some space down the right before unleashing a fierce volley bound for the top corner - Champion somehow got fingertips to it though and managed to tip it on to the bar and out for a corner.
The two sides continued to cancel each other out and with an evenly contested midfield battle, no team dominated the other with even spells of possession for both sides.
With the half time whistle imminent, the Cats should of gone in to the break a goal to the good. A mistimed jump from a visiting defender led to Harris' gambled run being a successful one as he found himself one on one with the Tackleway goalkeeper - his attempt just went wide of the left hand post though as another chance went begging.
That would prove to be the last kick of the half as the referee blew for half time. 0-0 at the break.
Second Half Triple
Catsfield made a change at the break as Newman replaced Harris up front as the Cats looked to get the opening goal. It was in fact the visitors that broke the deadlock in the 56th minute though as the Tackleway number 9 added to the three he scored in the first fixture by getting another one in this one, albeit with a huge slice of luck. His shot from the edge of the box going through three pairs of legs before ending up in the back of the net.
The Cats then made their second substitution on the hour mark as White replaced Rawlings - Newman dropping back to centre back with White going up front.
The visitors then doubled their lead in the 68th minute as a dangerous freekick on the edge of the Catsfield box could only be parried away by Champion - the ball falling at the feet of a Tackleway midfielder chasing in, who slotted it home - 2-0.
Catsfield almost hit back immediately as good work from White saw him find Luke in a bit of space inside the box - his right footed shot skewed agonisingly wide though. The Cats did indeed get themselves back in the game with 7 minutes remaining and it was top goalscorer Luke that got the goal. A nice turn inside the box before slamming a left footed shot in to the bottom corner gave the Catsfield some hope and something to fight for in the remaining 10 or so minutes.
The Cats were then sucker punched 3 minutes later though as Tackleway completed their second half triple. With Catsfield pressing for an equaliser it left them rather exposed at the back and when a visiting midfielder spotted Champion off his line, he chipped a 30 yard strike which went up and over the Cats 'keeper before dropping in to the net - the killer blow as far as the game as a contest was concerned.
The referee blew the full time whistle minutes later as the game finished 3-1 to the visitors. With no game next week - the Cats then host Old Hastonians a week later, and with only 4 fixtures remaining, Catsfield really need to win 2 of those to stand a chance of retaining their Division 2 status for next seasons campaign.
#UpTheCats #GunMetalGreys
