Town went into this difficult looking game on the back of a really disappointing semi-final exit to Blaby & Whetstone. Once again Town were without a number of key players including Ross Proud, Liam Aubrey, Aiden Ramkissoon and Danny Smith but did welcome back skipper Olly Preston, Tom Silk from holiday and Scott Hardy from suspension.
Town’s management had asked for Saturday’s cup exit to be forgotten and come out the blocks fast and the team certainly responded. Town dominated possession from the start and quickly took control of the midfield. One chance had already been wasted when Scott Hardy picked up a loose ball in the middle of the park and played the ball through for Jelly to run on to, round the keeper and slot home. Town immediately grew in confidence and within 5 minutes were 2 up when Jelly scored his second of the game after Frost put a low cross in from the right. Anstey barely had time to breathe when Town made it 3 when Frost crossed from the right, Hardy volleyed back across goal and Ramkissoon charged in to finish from close range. Anstey who are flying high this year just didn’t have an answer and it quickly became 4 when Jelly once again found himself clean through and expertly chipped the keeper to complete his hat-trick. A cricket score looked on the cards especially when 8 minutes before the break Ramkissoon added his second and Town’s fifth! Town did lose concentration for a minute when Parry handled in the box for Brown to get Anstey on the score sheet from the spot.
Town knew the importance of not letting Anstey back into the game but that’s just what they did when after 5 minutes Brown headed home to give the belief. Town were then on the end of some shocking refereeing decisions who seemed to have completely lost control. In a game that hadn’t seen 1 bad tackle the referee somehow showed 6 yellows and a red to both Towns team and manager. As the referee had clearly lost his composure he unfortunately caused the game to descend into a farce but Town dug deep and rebelled any Anstey comeback and indeed could have added to their total but wasted 3 good chances towards the end. The referee in the end, probably much to his annoyance, hadn’t managed to put Town off their stride and held out to earn 3 valuable points. Town now travel to Barrow Town on Saturday for another big league game.
