A total contrast in the weather from the first few games of the season with it being quite cold but dry.
We started out as we have in the last couple of games with a good early goal, we got a free kick deep in our own half which Finchy knocked long for Kyle to flick on. John got on the end of the flick and controlled well to knock it past the keeper 1-0 in the second minute. Kirton kicked off and we won the ball straight back. The ball was knocked up to Ed who done well to find John 1 on 1 with the keeper with the same result 2-0 and Kirton were looking shell shocked. We kept up the early pressure and Ed had his shot saved for a Sax corner. The corner resulted in another shot going just over the bar. Kirton has their first attack of the game where they had a ball into the box and the ball just didn't get cleared and a Kirton player shot at goal with the ball sneaking inside the post to make it 2-1. Kirton were lifted by the goal and put us under pressure for the next 15 minutes but really didn't have enough to trouble the defence. When one ball did get through Jack S hammered the ball away into the other half. John had another chance but the shot went over. We had a corner in the 31st minute and Kyle's goal bound shot struck a defenders hand but the ref waved away the penalty shouts.
Half time Kirton 1 Sax 2
2nd half
Andy came on for George who had jarred his neck and Connor went on for Ollie to freshen up the left hand side. We started as we did the first half with Andy looking like he should have scored 2 minutes into the half. Kirton responded with a shot on goal in the 40th minute and after more pressure scored in the 42nd even with Jack S getting his fingertips to it 2-2. We then seemed to wake up and Connor who was looking good had a shot deflected for a corner. Kirton had a shot over the bar in the 45th minute which Jack S had covered. As in the 1st half the defence dealt with most things that Kirton threw at them and the midfield were doing well to link play to the strikers. John had another attempt go just wide in the 46th minutes and on 47 minutes another Sax attack put Kirton under pressure with John's shot coming off the post and Andy knocking the rebound in, with Kirton turning away and Sax celebrating the linesman put up the latest offside flag you are likely to see this season - goal disallowed!!! John again had a shot go wide in the 53rd minute and Andy had a shot go wide on the 59th. It was all Sax on the attack and the ever busy Ed hit the post. Kirton were riding their luck and the amount of pressure they were under surely had to result in a goal for Sax. A ball was put over the top from the back for John to run on to in the 68th minute and he stuck the ball past the keeper to put us back in the lead. With Kirton pushing up for an equalizer they were caught on the break and the unlucky Ed hit the post for Andy to follow in and tap it in to put the result out of sight for Kirton. We played 5 minutes of stoppage time due to the ref having to talk to some of our players but hopefully after a chat at the end of the game lessons will be learned. A good team performance that was slightly marred by a lack of discipline. Well done boys for another good win. Through to the next round.
