With a seriously depleted squad due to various reasons, Cavalier hosted local rivals Cannings Rangers in a mid table clash, hoping to muster a positive result against the odds.
The home side have added to their squad in recent weeks with the signing of goalkeeper Sam Peacock, but still only managed to put together 12 players, in what should’ve been a match that got the whole team together to gain 3 valuable points.
With Jez Wiltshire out through illness, Dec McEniry and Delvin Keane MIA, Andy Holman and Michael Stone unavailable, John Stockman suffering an ongoing knee injury and countless other players that have quit throughout the season, the odds were always stacked against the Devizes outfit.
Peacock retained his place in goal, with former no. 1 Marcus Rossi continuing to play at the heart of defence after impressing in recent weeks along side Carl Ledbury. The versatile Mike Booth started the game at right-back, with Chris Underwood returning to action at left-back. Dan Rance continued in his preferred role at right midfield, with Antony Butler on the left. Liam McEniry and Roger Wiltshire played in the centre of the pitch, with Leigh Blanchard and James Butler the two target men upfront in a 4-4-2 formation.
The game started off very scrappy, and it became obvious that whichever team scored first would probably win the game. Cavalier were getting frustrated with each other in the early moments, as each attack broke down before it really started.
Chris Underwood was fortunate not to get a yellow card when after 15 minutes retaliated to a challenge. Neither team created many chances early on, and the first shot of the game came after 20 minutes when Roger Wiltshire attempted to score from 45 yards when Jacob Rogers was out of the Cannings Rangers goal, but shot high and wide.
Cannings soon took the lead, when Cavalier lost the ball high up the pitch, and the youthful legs of the Cannings attackers managed to break free. After good work down the left wing, Jason Greenidge fired home the opener to put Cannings 1-0 up.
Leigh Blanchard had a glorious opportunity to level things up when he found himself unmarked at the back post from an inch perfect delivery by Carl Ledbury, but his header glanced wide of the post.
Cavalier rarely threatened again in the first half, and it was Cannings who scored the next goal. Greenidge with his 2nd of the morning.
HALF-TIME: 0-2.
Something had to be changed in the 2nd half if Cavalier were to get any sort of result. Dave Young shifted a few players around, including Mike Booth going upfront to inject some pace into the attack, and Leigh Blanchard dropping back into midfield to help the home side gain some control of the possession.
Cavalier were by far the better side in the 2nd half, but again couldn’t create that clear-cut chance to reduce the arrears. With the wind blowing strongly against the home side, every long ball was being held up in the air.
Blanchard and Wiltshire were dominating the midfield against a weak Cannings midfield, who were scared to put in any kind of physical challenge to the duo. They were having more luck with challenges against Dan Rance however, as the gangly winger was being outmuscled by a 16 year old throughout the match.
Cannings then somehow were awarded a penalty, which baffled the Cavalier players as no challenge was made at any time. Justice was served though, as the Cannings right-back shot his penalty into row Z.
With 12 minutes left, Cavalier found a way back into the game when the home side won a freekick from 25 yards out. With the angle suiting a left-footer, Ledbury stepped up, duly dispatching the ball into the top corner, giving Jacob Rogers no chance in goal.
With confidence high of snatching a draw, Cavalier went for broke in the final stages. It was against the run of play that Jason Greenidge completed his hat-trick, in a freak situation which half the Cavalier players still can’t get their heads around even now. With the ball trickling towards Peacock, all the Cavalier players turned away expecting a big goal kick, but instead what they witnessed was the ball squirming through the ‘keeper’s arms as Dave Young tried clearing the ball out of his hands. Greenidge nipped in to poke the ball into an empty net. With all Cavalier’s hard wok undone with one stupid moment, the game petered out in the final moments.
FULL-TIME: 1-3.
