BOTTESFORD TOWN RES 0 SWINEFLEET FC 1
It was quite difficult for Reece Lumley, Swinefleet’s official Tweeter-Man, to find on-going action to tweet about during Swinefleet’s Challenge Cup tie against opposition from a League below. Swinefleet did just about enough to see off their Cup opponents, and arguably had the better chances to see off this match earlier.
Swinefleet worked hard as a team but struggled to find any form of fluency with their passing, with lots of passes in the first half either being overhit or just not finding their intended recipient. The deciding goal of the match came as early as the 22nd minute with Niall Barker, playing in central midfield along with Aaron Raymond, dispossessing his opponent with a strong tackle. Barker’s through ball down the middle was latched onto by the goal-scoring machine Cohen Vause to run onto and round the Bottesford keeper, and place the ball into the empty net, for his 5th goal in 4 matches.
It was expected that Swinefleet would then push on from here, particularly with both full-backs Josh Lamming on the left and Liam Cooper on the right, finding lots of space down the flanks. An intelligent run from Keir Vause on 29 minutes coming in from the left onto Raymond’s pass nearly paid dividends, but the Bottesford keeper just managed to get to the ball and clear his lines.
The home side did force a succession of corners in the last 15 minutes of the first half, and Jamie Ward had to produce a fine save on 41 minutes from a long range shot to tip the ball over his cross-bar, and maintain Swinefleet’s slender lead at half-time.
Second half saw Swinefleet create some more chances, with a fine header on 64 minutes from Dale Noon, on for Matty Eastwood up front, forcing a good save from the Bottesford keeper. Another goal from Swinefleet looked likely on 72 minutes with Cohen Vause bursting down the left, but he was unable to cut the ball back to present younger brother Keir with the simplest of tap-ins from just 5 yards out. Noon also had a good attempt smothered by the Bottesford keeper on 76 minutes.
With time running out, Bottesford went to a back three for the last 10 minutes and desperately threw men forward to try and salvage something. The Swinefleet central defensive partnership of Scot Jackson and Gareth Welsh was solid as a rock though and mopped up everything that was thrown at them. Bottesford did nearly force extra-time in the 89th minute when a Bottesford header from a corner was goal-bound, but K. Vause was on sentry duty on the post to clear off the line.
Referee’s Man of the Match went to Scot Jackson.
Next week Swinefleet are at home to Crosby Colts. All players to meet at South Park at 2.00pm.
