Town came into this game on the back of 4 league and cup games without a win and short on numbers with a mini injury crisis, as Andrews still not fit and Wingrave missing with a knee injury and Mike migliori out with ankle injury, worse was to follow as goalkeeper and captain Nick Sibley failed a pre game fitness test and had to miss out. Childs donned the gloves for the first time in a few years, playing well throughout and Brooks made a much welcomed return to centre back. Leighton started the game in a new formation playing 3 in the middle with Marshall and the stand in skipper Neale holding, with Edwards giving the attacking role after his excellent cameo the week before.
The first 5 minutes Town started like a team who hadnt won for a while giving the ball away regurly in the middle, and it was from one of these sloppy passes passes that B4ooks had to hack down there striker on the edge of the box, The resulting free kick was drill down the middle as Childs tipped it over the bar, but never really looked troubled by it. After this though town started moving the ball around and pass by pass were growing in confidence and looking like the team that come up last season. It wasnt untill the 16th minute however that the first chance came as a nice one two between Edwards and Ottaway ended in Dan drilling a shotat the keeper. Leighton were firmly on top now as the midfield 3 took control of the game and the pace of the 2 wingers and the lively Mattacks started to cause problems at the back for the home team. In the 23rd minute the next chance came as the ball was bouncing around in the box bodies everywhere but Neale could only smash it over the bar. The break through came do as Brroks picked the ball up 5vyards outside hius own box and drilled a excellent pass over their fullback for Mattacks to run onto and he took full advantage smashing the ball home from 12 yards. after this Go Bowling started to come into the game more and were looking lively going forward having a goal ruled out for offside and a audacious long shot left Childs back peddling and skimming the crossbar. Moments after that a good cross gave the home striker a free header from 6 yards but he failed to hit the target. Town responded well to this scare do and were battling hard in midfield with Neale leading the charge, the next goal came soon after when an excellent throughball by Edwards was latched onto by Georgiou who placed in the corner with the outside of his left peg. 2-0 at the break and a much improved performance from Town.
second half Town came out full of confidence and the back 4 marshalled well by Brooks dealingh with anything the home side could through at them. Town looked good going forward and were nearly rewarded with a goal when Mattacks had a shot well saved by the Bowling keeper and from the rebound Ottaway drilled it straight back at him. The 3rd goal wouldnt take to much longer to come however as Geo took a corner which smacked the post and rebounded back to him he then played the ball into the area for Mattacks to score with the faintest of touches 3-0 and surely this was game over. Town were now playing with great fluency and passing it around well with Edwards the key to most attacks, Town were looking like running riot. However Go Bowling then found a second wind and started pumping the ball forward putting the Town defencve under pressure but town defended bravely with Marshall and Neale both excellent in front of them were prooving hard to break down, Childs having only one real save to make which he did well. However the pressure did tell when with 18 minutes left Go Bowlings striker found his way into the area and drilled the ball past Childs. Leighton then did there best to press the self destruct buttonwith 5 minutes of losing their heads and passes going astray but Bowling could not capitilise and Town regained their composure to see the game out and could even have made it worse as with minutes remaining an excellent turn in the box by Ottaway saw him draw a top draw save by the home goalkeeper.
This was a much improved town performance and arguably their best of the season as the 3 man centre midfield were excellent with Neale, who got man of the match and Marshall's battling display and the creativity of the four attacking players causing plenty of problems and the back four who were solid all game and stand in goalkeeper Childs also doing what little work he had with great effect it was a performance that pushes Town into second and hopefully sees them kick on in their bid for promotion!
