This game could have gone either way before it started, with old dons having three of the regular players out including there striker on fire Jonny Butler, king pin in midfield Andrew Stanhope and speedy Gonzales Oli Gedney down the wing ,some suitable replacements were needed so in come the manager Mark Stanhope in midfield for his first full start, Chris Grimer returning to action, Lloyd Ogilvie been drafted into defence, new signing but old hand Steve Holstead been drafted in and Andy Slaughter as the two subs brought the team up to scratch. Old dons were causing the first few problems for the frieston defence in the early exchanges Chris Grimer going close and the goalkeeper flapping at a few crosses into the box,frieston had a few corners but nothing really to note as comfortably dealt with by the defence or keeper, dons got a break down the right wing with captain Liam Pitts charging forward by a couple of players ,his cross was turned into the net with a lovely right foot shot from Chris Grimer as he just nipped in front of the defender to win the ball. This spurned Frieston on and one shot notably about 15 minutes later ,as the striker turned and shot in the box, was brilliantly tipped away by young Jamie hall in goal for another Frieston corner. The challenges were still going in strong and hard, when Alex wood got the ball in the box and laid it across the path for Kieran Rose to beat a defender and bang the ball into the net, apart from one bad challenge into the back of mark Stanhope as he jumped for the ball, which left him laid out on the floor should have been awarded a penalty, the first half ended with dons 2-0 to the good.
Second half started with Frieston looking the more dangerous on 60 mins, Frieston got the lucky break a cross from the left looped over everyone including the keeper and into the far corner of the net ....game on within minutes of the goal old dons keeper Jamie hall had to be substituted for a leg injury he picked up in the first half, so on stepped Steve Holstead in between the sticks for his first game in a old dons shirt ....maybe not the coloured one he was expecting though, Frieston kept pressing for the equaliser and if it weren’t for some determined defending from Ricky ( he was loud at times)Mason, Wayne Foster Lloyd and Dave Slaughter, Dons would have been in trouble. On 75 minutes Frieston were awarded a harsh penalty, Steve Holstead was adjudged to have brought their player down in the box as he went for goal. There striker stepped up to slot the ball into the bottom right corner of the net ,the keeper was so close to getting his hand on the shot. After this it was a tight game, both teams had chances Kieran Rose had a brilliant shot disallowed for offside which was very debatable, Frieston pushed forward looking for the winner, Mark Stanhope went off for Andy Slaughter. Some good handling from the Dons keeper, and some bad misses and decisions the other end keep the scores level until the last min,Dons worked the ball up field Martin Fox passing to Liam Pitts then feeding a pass out right into the path of Kieran Rose who unleashed a rocket from about 25 yrds,it flew straight into the top far corner of the net brilliant strike, without any time Frieston tried a shot from kick off which sailed over the dons goal before the goal kick was took the ref blew for the final whistle ......Old Doningtonians with a hard fought game had beaten Frieston 3-2,a much improved performance from the week before well done lads !!!
