Kings Arms (All Cannings) notched up back-to-back league wins for the first time since the opening month of the season, with a 3-2 home victory over the in-form White Horse FC, and in doing so gave their hopes of automatic promotion a massive boost.
For nearly an hour the two defences had dominated with chances at either end few and far between, but any thoughts of a goalless stalemate were quickly forgotten as a pulsating last 32 minutes produced five goals, two penalties and many a bitten nail.
The in-form Jordan Gullis nearly broke the deadlock on 23 minutes for the visitors, only for his long range effort to come crashing back off the bar. Moments later neat work from Gullis and Dale Rowland created an opportunity for Chris Stiles, but his sweetly struck effort from the edge of the penalty area sailed narrowly over. It was to be the influential Stiles’ last meaningful contribution of the game, as the Horse’s top goal scorer was forced off through injury seven minutes before half time. Almost instantly the hosts had their best chance of the half to break the deadlock when Andy Hunt saw his curling effort from 15 yards go inches wide of Rich Hunt’s left hand post.
The second half started in a similarly cagey fashion, but 10 minutes in and the game came to life. Having been put clean through, White Horse’s Danny Clarkson was denied on the edge of the area by the alert Kings Arms’ keeper Aiden Allmark, only for the home side to go straight down the other end and see Shaun Jefferies put his lobbed effort just wide. For the first time in the day, and with the game opened up, a goal suddenly seemed likely and it was villagers that got it when Andy Hunt got his head on a cross from James Seldon, giving his namesake in the White Horse goal no chance.
The goal brought the visitors to life however and just two minutes later they found themselves back on level terms. Not for the first time this season it was a Steve Tucker corner that provided the ammunition, and although his original centre was headed against the cross bar by captain Rob Hart, Danny Clarkson found himself in the right place at the right time to finish from close range after the resulting melee.
With 15 minutes remaining referee David Bradfield awarded the first of two penalties. The ball broke into the Horse’s penalty area and the advancing Rich Hunt collided with Jefferies, although accidental it looked clumsy enough for the referee to have no doubt in pointing to the spot. The home captain Danny Thompson showed great composure and struck the spot kick sweetly into the bottom left corner of the net giving Hunt little hope.
Once again however White Horse refused to lie down and two minutes later they were awarded a penalty themselves when Rowland was felled just inside the area. The striker got to his feet and took the penalty himself only to be denied by Allmark who guessed the right way. Allmark’s joy was short lived though as the guests found themselves all square once more with 10 minutes remaining, Danny Clarkson claiming his second brace of the season with a bullet header from six yards out from Gullis’ corner.
With the game nearing it’s conclusion both teams would have probably taken a hard fought point, but with five minutes left substitute Brett Cullen had different ideas, finishing from close range and with it claiming the spoils from a terrifically entertaining match.
Author: Clive Black
