A confident Facelad side set up with a very similar team to the one that dismantled St. Albans Rangers 5-1 the week before. Only three changes were made with the Comerford brothers being replaced by the returns of Lawrence and Knott as well as Dawson-Goody earning a start replacing Fox at centre back. These changes showing that good performances from the bench and in training can earn you a place in the starting line up.
The first half started well for Facelad with the passing looking crisp and the pressing from the front 4 causing the Skew Bridge back line a lot of problems, with the left back in particular showing visable nerves as Saxby intercepted 3 or 4 passes from him in the first half hour. Despite the first ten minutes possessing cute football from the side it was a set piece that saw the breakthrough. A corner whipped in from J.Clynes found Saxby at the front post who made a very clever run to lose his marker and head just past the keeper. 1-0 and his 3rd of the season already. Facelad continued to keep the ball well with the 3 centre midfielders gaining more and more of a foothold in the game. However a ball lost on the halfway line by J.Clynes saw Skew Bridge counter with a switch to Facelads right hand side where Dawson-Goodey closed down the winger and unfortunately the ball struck his outstretched arm, penalty given. Extence had already saved a penalty in the previous league game against Garston and looked confident. He stepped slightly to his left and provided the penalty taker with more room to his right, as if to goade him that way. However the Facelad keeper seemed to psych his opponent out and dived left! Palmed away by the keeper! The score remained 1-0. This proved to galvanize Facelad as they immediately went up the other end to double their lead. Captain Alderman slid a pinpoint pass through for Clynes to beat his man and cut back for O'Brien only to be denied a goal by an excellent defensive block. The ball eventually rebounding to Lawrence for him to shin home from a couple of yards. A classy finish from the full back. Facelad looked incredibly comfortable seeing out the rest of the first with no real chances of note after the second goal.
Facelad manager Peter Clynes made two changes at half time and the change in personel appeared to effect the teams rhythm, with one through ball cutting out the new look midfield and centre half Dawson Goodey brought down his man as the referee pointed to the spot for the second time in the game. Skew Bridge changed spot kick taker after Extence's save from the first half and it paid dividends as the ball was struck high into the net to half Facelads lead. From here the contest became a basketball game with both sides attacking, however it must be said that Facelad had the better of the chances and always looked in control (excluding the last five minutes). Facelad had several half chances to kill the game off with Alderman having a few pot shots from the edge of the box, O'Brien finding a combination of post and goalkeeper from a tight angle and J. Clynes choosing to shoot rather then square on several occasions. By not killing the game off Facelad created a nervy final five minutes for themselves and could have found themselves leaving with a single point rather than all three. Were it not for a goal saving block from Jordan Scott on the line and an awful finish from the Skew Bridge Reserves forward. As well as a lung busting run from box to box by Lawrence carrying the ball 80 yards and relieving the pressure for his side. Big performances all over the park for Facelad and a first win in the league. Man of the match goes to goalkeeping hero Kieron Extence, not only for his penalty save but also string of fine stops through out the game. #COYF
