The SSAFC picked up a hard fought win on what turned out to be a lovely Sunny October morning at Ridlins coming back from behind twice to win 5-3 against a London Carlisle side who kept the SSAFC at bay for large spells and gave a stern test!
The SSAFC started poorly with Carlisle looking to attack and had a chance which went over but Carlisle took the lead when the SSAFC couldnt clear a long throw and the ball fell to their striker in the box who's chip evaded Brown in goal to make it 1-0 to Carlisle, not the start the SSAFC had in mind! The SSAFC started to pick it up and a good chance for Barker which was saved from the keeper! The SSAFC then got back on level terms when a cross in from Jeorge Wedge on the right should have been dealt with by the Carlisle keeper but somehow slipped out of his hands straight into the path of Carroll who tucked in.
The SSAFC then went behind straight away when once again, the ball wasnt dealt with in the box and a shot from the midfielder deflected off Chesworth and wrong footed Brown in goal who couldnt do anything to stop it going in! The SSAFC had to roll up their socks and get on with trying to get back in the game with Teale having an effort well saved and Wedge volleying wide! Carroll then had a golden chance from a corner which fell to him but his effort went over! Devall was working hard but didnt get much luck in front of goal but that changed when good work on the right from himself set up a shot which he blasted near post and went in via the post to make it 2-2, a very good finish!
It was an entertaining half with both sides looking to attack, Brown made a good save low to deny their striker and the SSAFC looked to stay strong. The SSAFC took the lead for the first time when a corner found a rising Jeorge Wedge who powerful header found the net to make it 3-2 just before the stroke of half time!
The second half started with positive intent from the SSAFC with attacking play, first effort came from Bell who's left footed volley went over! Dunn had an effort go wide and Teale just wasnt get much luck up top in his first game of the season! Carlisle were still causing a problem for the SSAFC but Brown had little in terms of efforts on goal. The game was mainly in the middle with both sides trying to get a foothold of the ball.
Jackson then had a penalty shout waved away but then had a great chance when the ball was parried into the post from a Teale effort and Jackson was about to roll the ball in until the defender cleared off the line! From the resulting corner, a header was cleared off the line! It just wasnt going in. Carlisle then attacked and got a penalty when Shadbolt brought down their winger, a clear pen. The pen was well taken and gave Brown no chance in goal.
The SSAFC got back in the lead a few minutes later when great work from a corner from Dunn who drilled a low cross which found the Carlisle captain who's put into his own net, a bad time but something that couldnt have been prevented to make it 4-3 the SSAFC. The game started to get a bit tense but Jackson ended that with a few minutes to go when Bell played the ball through to Jackson who was one on one with the keeper and he cooly chipped over the keeper to make it 5-3 and finish the game off! The SSAFC knew they had to work hard for it against a tough outfit in London Carlisle.
Team: Brown, Tutton, Barker, Ridley, Chesworth, Sapsed, Dunn, Wedge, Devall, Carroll, Teale
Subs: Bell, Brown, Shadbolt, Jackson
