Starting Line Up
Harber
Ryder, Wilkins, Rooke, Wall
Hession, Else, Harris, Thomas, Anderson
Evans
Subs
Grogan, Sayer, Mayers, Thompson
With Ryder starting today and Short serving his ban, Short took over on the sidelines. He had a running battle with the linesman over coming out if the technical area as Short managed with passion like a young Tim Sherwood. It all got a bit stupid though when his three-year-old son was also ordered back into the technical area as the linesman took his job a little too seriously.
Smithswood had the better of the first ten minutes with some good possession play but the final ball just wasn't there but they were stopping Village from playing or creating any chances.
Anderson had the first real chance running at the full back and curling the ball with his left foot towards the top corner but the keeper made a great save winning Smithswood a corner. Good pressure from Smithswood.
Smithswood continued to create the chances with Evans shooting from outside the area but the keeper saved both long shot efforts.
25 mins GOAL 1-0 Thomas slides a pass to Evans who dummied the and Hession was through one on one and slots it home for the goal their dominance deserved.
Fantasy Update Goal Hession Assist Thomas, Evans
Most of Smithswood's attacks were coming down the right and Ryder overlapped to whip a cross in but Wall hit it just wide at the back post but still all Smithswood.
38 mins GOAL 1-1 However you always need that second goal and Smithswood lost control of the ball outside their area and a high lob beat Harber and the covering Ryder
41 mins GOAL 2-1 Else attacks down the right and whips a low cross in. Evans challenges the keeper and gets a shot off but he couldn't hold it and Hession fires home. Great response from Smithswood
Fantasy Update Scorer Hession Assist Else, Evans
Half Time Smithswood 2-1 Village
First ten are quiet but then Else chases a ball that the defender is shielding out and somehow hooks his foot around and wins the ball. Hession finds the cross with a half volley and the keeper knocks it onto the post. First chance of the second half.
51 mins GOAL 2-2 Village first shot of the half is a half volley from a swinging corner which finds the top corner.
The game starts to get stretched as Wilkins blocks a low shot heading for goal and then they break down the end with Wall shooting at the keeper who saves. Then Harris and Rooke have shots blocked as Smithswood chase the winner.
71 mins Wilkins yellow card for unsportsmanlike conduct and Sub Mayers for Anderson
73 mins 3-2 GOAL Rooke penalty after a handball in the area
Fantasy Update Scorer Rooke
76 mins Sub Thompson for Hession
Short gives Thompson some encouragement after he is beaten too easily by shouting "Come on Tommo, you're a f*****g animal"
81 mins Sub Sayer for Ryder
Smithswood had a few half chances in the last ten the best being a bullet shot from Mayers from outside the area. Smithswood controlled the play with Village having no chances as they went into the last few minutes.
92 mins GOAL 4-2 quality move between Harris, Evans and Thomas and Evans has some space 25 yards out and unleashes an unstoppable shot in the top corner. Top-drawer stuff
Fantasy Update Scorer Evans Assists Thomas, Harris
A well deserved victory for Smithswood who stay at the top of the Premier League
Around The League:
Walsall Phoenix 7
St George’s Warriors 2
Handsowrth GSOB 0
Old Wulfrunians 4
Crusaders 1
Silhill A 6
CPA A 0
Boldmere 1
