This was our 4th home game in a row and in the knowledge that we would be away from home next week it was important to end our home run with all 3 points but Sadly it was not to be and we lost 2-3.
From the first minute the away team looked sharper and faster to every ball as we produced possibly are worst start to the season so far. they was rewarded with their positive start with the lead, 30 minutes into the game with a close range finish after the ball rebounded off the crossbar, as it started with there full back charging forward moving down the right hand side moving the ball to the midfielder who had the initial shot on for the striker to pounce.
That goal was the motivation we needed to start playing our game. After a few missed chances, on the 40th minute, we produced the equaliser when left back James Mckelvie moved forward with a smart one-two with Matthew Hillier to cut inside & curling the ball into top corner to scored another great long range strike from just outside the box, that his second for the season.
The score at halftime was 1-1, at the halftime break we made a substitution bring on David Butler for Andy Hill and him made an instant impact on our intensity starting the second half very positively and should have gone ahead but we missed a few chances, one particular chance was by the sub David Butler after a mazy run turning past the opposing midfield and defence leaving him one on one with the goalkeeper for him to produce a smart save as he tried to roll the ball underneath him.
The away side then went back in front after a poor mistake from our goalkeeper, he wasn’t able to hold on to a soft shot from distance and the forward was quicker to react and tuck the ball home from close range putting them back in the lead.
On the 70th minute we equalized again after James Murdoch pursued a long ball in the corner and prevailed with the ball to, pass the ball to man of the match Conor Haynes, who in return slipped a short pass too Andrzej Szymczyk to bury the ball into the net and make the score 2-2
Sadly we were not able to hold on, with about 8 minutes to play, we were caught a bit short trying to go for the winner and they scored their 3rd goal after some hesitant defending leading to the wing being slipped into the gap allowing to put Phoenix back in the lead placing the ball into the side netting which was the winner. We pushed on for the last 7 minutes but the held on for the win. It’s our first defeat of the season.
We are away to AFC Cippenham this weekend in league action, it is vital we bounce back with all 3 points.
