With news filtering through that Shirley Athletic have now folded this unofficially meant that Smithswood were top of the Premier table as Old Wulfrunians have already beaten Shirley so that result will be taken off. This was now a chance for Smithswood to cement themselves as a major contender for the Premier title.
The squad still had some injuries to deal with as Mark Harber was still out and Craig Evans still had a troublesome groin which saw him move in between the sticks for todays game and Carl Thompson move up front
Starting Line Up
Evans
Glenn
Else
Rooke (Capt)
Wilkins
Thomas
Harris
Short
Wall
Anderson
Thompson
Subs
Morris
Sayer
Mayers
Missing today for Smithswood were Hession, Treadwell, Grady, Marshall and Booth
1430 Kick Off
Early battling by both team Wilkins and Rooke clearing their lines early on
3 mins Wake Green throw in not marked. Free cross and header just wide but flagged for off-side
5 mins Wake Green passed through defence too easily but cleared for corner by Wilkins
7 mins Throw in beats defence and Evans smothers off his line
7 mins Great work by Short, Anderson and Thomas creates chance for Else. His first suit is blocked and his second wide
9 mins GOAL 1-0 Harris down line to Anderson. Cuts inside and threads ball through defence and Thomas is away. Steadies himself and slots under the keeper. Fantasy Update Scorer Thomas Assist Anderson.
12 mins. Else runs at defence and is body checked for a free kick. Thomas whips it in and Rooke half volleys wide but the flag is up anyway
Smithswood took control of the game keeping the ball well and passing it around Wake Green restricting their attacks
20 mins GOAL 2-0 Anderson collects the ball on the left wing and whips an inch perfect cross onto Thompsons head who buries his header in the net. Fantasy Update Scorer Thompson Assist Anderson
21 mins Rooke fires a free-kick just wide of the post
Rooke and Wilkins stood strong at the back clearing and doubling up when they needed to
24 mins Anderson skins the full back again who has to pull him back. Thomas fires in the free-kick but Rookes header is just over the bar
26 mins Wake Geens first chance as they chip a cross and just head over but Evans had it covered.
28 mins Glenn with a great covering tackle to break down a promising attack and clear.
30 mins Else's turn to break down an attack with a great tackle to clear danger and start an attack.
31 mins Smithswood defence continues to be solid with Rooke covering with Else to clear another ball for his team
32 mins Glenners run passes wide to Wall who skins full back and crosses. Ball cleared and Harris shoots but saved low by keeper
33 mins Wake Forest go straight down and cross in only to find Wilkins there to head clear for a corner which is then cleared by Harris after a poor cross
35 mins Wake Green free-kick easily claimed by Evans
38 mins Harris neat one-two with Thompson whose cross is cleared over the bar by the defender for a corner. A great move by Smithswood
45 mins GOAL 3-0 Thompson diagonal ball to Wall who turns inside defender and slots below keeper Fantasy update Scorer Wall Assist Thompson
Half Time Wake Green 0 Smithswod 3
1522 Kick-off
46 mins Wall skins two and plays past a third who tackles him around the neck and took him out. No booking from the ref just a talking to
48 mins GOAL 4-0 Thomas through to Anderson who buries it past the keeper. Fantasy Update Scorer Anderson Assist Thomas
49 mins Wake Green win a penalty which is saved by Evans Fantasy Update Penalty Save Evans
51 mins Harris turns two inside out on the half way line and sprays a ball wide to Thomas. Thomas skins three and lays it off to Harris who fires just wide. Great football by Smithswood
55 mins Rooke spreads free-kick to Thomas who crosses into the box. Short wins the header and Harris stretches to knock it back in but defence clears ahead of Short
56 mins GOAL 4-1 Corner headed in past Evans
58 mins. Thomas corner headed high in the air Short spins and volleys over the bar
59 mins SUB Morris on for Thompson. Change of formation with Morris sent on to hold allowing Harris and Short to push on with Anderson up on his own. Within minutes Morris is pushing on and getting involved in attacks
62 mins Thomas one two with Anderson who skins defender and fires it across the box
63 mins Wall is clattered by defender. Thomas free-kick headed by Harris but he didn't get enough on it. Rooke kept it in and crossed it back but cleared
64 mins SUB Mayers on for Wall who has been kicked all over the place again by the opposition
64 mins Rooke crossed and Wilkins heads just over
65 mins Rooke free-kick headed wide by Morris
67 mins Harris sprays ball wide to Thomas who cuts inside and shoots hard and low but saved by the keeper
74 mins SUB Sayers on for Anderson
82 mins GOAL 5-1 Sayer collects the ball from Morris and passes wide to Thomas who cuts inside one and drills past the keeper. Fantasy Update Scorer Thomas Assist Sayer
86 mins Harris sprays the ball wide to Sayer who crossed high for the incoming Morris who heads just over. The keeper would have had no chance if it was on target
88 mins GOAL 6-1 Corner from Sayer met by Morris' header that goes back towards the corner flag. It is picked up and crossed back in by Wilkins and falls to Short who hammers the ball into the net. Fantasy Update Scorer Short Assist Wilkins
Full-Time Wake Green 1 Smithswood 6
Results in the league:
Silhill A 1-3 Old Wulfrunians
CPA A 3-2 AFC Somers
Athletic Sparkhill 7-2 Handsworth GSOB
