On paper this should have been an easy 3 points against the leagues bottom side but once the away teamsheet was handed in and only 1 player remained from the previous meeting Town knew this would be a tougher test than expected. Town were high on confidence after an impressive midweek win against St Andrews that effectively ended their title hopes.
The game began at a slow pace in windy conditions but it was obvious Town were the far superior footballing side. The first chance arrived when Cossu played the ball through for Jelly who with the keeper to beat lobbed the ball over the bar. Hardy was next to show when he cut in from the left but his effort narrowly missed the near post. 2 minutes later Hardy cut in from the left again and cut the ball back for Silk whose effort from 20 yards went high and wide. The best chance fell to Jelly on 18 minutes when D.Smith crossed from the right but Jelly’s header from 5 yards was straight at the keeper. Town were then caught with a sucker punch when a ball over the top sent Ellistown’s striker clean through but as he was about to shoot Cossu brought him down and was shown the red card. The penalty was duly dispatched and Town after dominating the game found themselves a goal and a man down. Town were at 6’s and 7’s for the next 10 minutes and struggled to hold on to the ball but Ellistown didn’t make their advantage count and rarely troubled Town’s defence. On 35 minutes Town were level when the ball broke to Jelly on the left corner of the area and he superbly curled the ball into the top right corner. It was the least Town deserved and the teams went into half time level.
The second half began with Town in complete control once more and it was they who looked like they had the extra man. Just before the hour mark Town were ahead when Hardy played the ball through for Jelly to run onto getting to the ball just before the keeper to chip it over him, run round and tap the ball into the empty net. Town continued to push and once again Hardy tested the keeper with a cross shot from the right hand side of the area. With 10 minutes remaining substitute Jayes on his first game back from a broken ankle was put clean through but he scuffed his shot wide. Then with 2 minutes remaining Jayes was again put through and this time he rounded the keeper, had time to fall over the ball, get back on his feet and poke the ball home. In the end Town’s players were dead on their feet as with 10 men for 70 minutes they had run themselves into the ground but in the end were fairly comfortable.
FT LTFC 3-1 Ellistown.
