After losing a 3 goal lead in the previous game, people wondered if there would be changes made to the Phoenix line-up against Hilltop. As it turned out there were none and the manager kept faith in the side that have gone 2 games unbeaten and were looking to make it 3 today.
Hilltop were only a few points away from the top of the division and a win today would surely put pressure on division leaders Moreton Arms.
A 2 minute silence was held at 11 oclock before kick off in memory of those who gave their lives fighting for their country.
At 2 minutes past 11, Hilltop got the game underway. Phoenix looked a little nervy for the first few minutes and were second to every 50-50 ball. Hilltop were very much on top in the opening minutes of the game. Phoenix who had made a slow start were forced to make an early change after 10 minutes and Adam Booth pulled up feeling his Hamstring. Dave Lucas came on to replace him.
15 minutes in and the game saw its first goal. Hilltop were passing the ball well, but a run through the middle saw a shot from distance, that was straight at Ade, however Ade could not hold onto it and it slipped through his hands and Hilltop lead 1-0.
This seemed to kick Phoenix into life. They started to get on top of the game more and it was they who started to play the football. Chris and Steve were winning the ball in midfield and looking for the runs of Dave and linking up with Dean. Booth was making his usual runs and was drawing in a lot of hard tackles that lead to the referee having a few stern words with the opposition.
35 minutes on the clock and Phoenix got their reward. A move down the left saw the ball played to Dean, who played the ball into dave. He shot on the turn which took a deflection that wrong footed the keeper, who couldnt recover and the ball rolled into the net. 1-1.
Both teams had further chances in the half but the best chance fell to hilltop. The ball was played accross the box and fell to the left winger inside the 18 yard box. He had time to pick his spot and it produced the save of the match. Ade somehow kept it out with a strong left hand, this made sure Phoenix went into half time still in the game at 1-1.
At half time you felt either team could have gone to win, but Phoenix looked the more likely in the second half despite a bizarre kick off that saw centre back Matthew Whyte have a shot from inside his own half. Needless to say the ball rolled out of play for a Hilltop throw in deep in their own half.
Phoenix were now well on top and looked the more likely to score. The defence were holding strong supported by the midfield 2 of Steve and Chris. 65 minutes saw a move down the right hand side between Dean and Booth force a throw in for Phoenix. It was deep enough in Hilltops half for Gibson to get the ball into the box. The throw came in and seemed to evade everybody and go straight in, howver it went down as an own goal and Phoenix lead the game 2-1.
The game started to get a bit nasty and the first yellow card was produced. Daz had got his name in the book again, his 3rd of the season. He now had to watch himself for the rest of the game. A bit of pressure from Hilltop saw a number of hand ball shouts against Phoenix but the ref waved them all away.
Booth again drew a foul just inside the Hilltop half. He picked himself up to take it and in the 80th minute the ball fell to Chris at the back post whos shot hit the back of the net and surely gave Phoenix their first 3 points of the season.
Hilltop were not happy and a tussle between graham and there forward saw both players go into the referees book.
Phoenix though could of gone onto score a few more after chances from Dean, Booth and Dave all went wide or over. Phoenix held on though and took their first 3 points of the season. The smiles on their faces whilst walking off said it all.
