Match Report by Club Secretary Matt Eagles:
Mary Dendy entertained Old Alts as Great Warford with both sides looking for their first points of the season . Dendy had plenty of possession but couldn't crack a solid Alts defence led by Jeff Marshall and it was Alts who took the lead midway through the first half . Sean Hollingsworth challenged keeper Matt Robinson for the ball and just managed to get his toe to the ball first and knock it past as the keeper went to ground . In one movement he turned and shot goalwards and the ball flew into an empty net. Ten minutes later Dendy were level , Matt Morris , making a welcome return to the side showing he had lost none of his predatory instincts reacting first to poke the ball home as Nathan French could only parry a fierce shot from Paul Richardson. Alts took the lead again seven minutes before halftime as the lively Stuart Greenwood took advantage of hesitancy in the home defence. They held their lead until the hour mark when Adam Taylor made it 2-2 with a neat turn and shot but ten minutes from with both sides desperate not to lose Matt Morris grabbed his second of the game nodding the ball over the top of man of the match , Alts keeper Nathan French. But for a string of fine saves from French Dendy could have been out of sight but he kept his side in the game right to the final whistle which was greeted with delight by the Dendy boys.
Match Report by Assistant Manager David Vickers:
At last back on the winning track. It was said before the game with the quality of our 19 players to choose from if we had lost again the season would be worry.
Mary Dendy were the better side for most of the game. They had better players one for one but again a silly goal fr
om poor defending gave ALTS a goal against the run of play and i think from their only chance. The worry yet again was how quick Dendy got on each others back when things go down. I am not sure if this is the nature of the team or just frustration of knowing they are better then some of the teams they are losing against. Dendy did manage to get the game level by at last making the pressure count to make it 1-1. I thought then we would go on and win comfortable but no poor defending again gave them two chances two goals. Most of the second half belonged to Dendy who struggled to make their dominance count against a hard working stubborn Old alts side who on the back of a 13 - 1 defeat put everything into trying to get something out of the game. Good blocking and a decent keeper made it look like it was going to be yet another bad day. Thankfully good play and finishing final told and Dendy went on to win the game 3-2. Only really worry we had second half was a great cross cleared by Adam Wakefield that very nearly went into the Dendy net if not for a good safe from Matt. Dendy goal scorers were Adam Taylor one Matt Morris two. Donkey was Ryan for taking his shin pads off and not being ready to go on when called on. Man of the match was Adam Taylor.
Special mention and who i gave man of the match was Shep the manager. He made some very tough choices on his start up team with 19 choices( a side i would have picked myself i think if i had the nerve to) and for not buckling on his subs even though we all had our ideas of who and when to change.
Outfield i think Matt Morris was our best player he has class and composure up front as well as being a goal scorer.
So up side 3 points down side still too negative when things are not going well, Dans early injury and the mistakes that are giving away cheap goals a worry against the better sides.
