Despite the importance of the game we found it hard to get going and a hard working Grange side take at least some credit for that.
Up front we were pretty lacklustre in the early stages and lacked any real cutting edge. In the first minute Kyle was too easily shrugged off the ball, in the 3rd he broke clear but couldn't pull the trigger and in the 9th he again went clear but screwed a square cross into touch when Jack was in acres. Ben was equally out of sorts and in a subdued early period never put any pressure on the back four with or without the ball. Futher back things didnt look too rosy with Neil drifting into inside runs and getting caught in possession, Dazza reverting to hands up protests with play continuing around him and Bowles over eager in attacking loose balls. As late as the 15th a well won header from Jack saw no pressure on the second ball in their 18 yard box. Dazza went through a period of loose play, Jack joined in with a sloppy ball disrupting a good break and in the 25th Neil missed from 6 yards as glory beckoned. Neils bursting run into the box though did seem to kickstart our game.
Ben and Jack linked up well and Josh dragged his effort wide. Ben went close as Sam and Olli combined and twice in 5 minutes Ben came within a whisker of finishing at the far post, arriving just a second too late each time but we were starting to work the openings. We kept the pressure on and in the 40th Kyle produced his best piece of football playing in Sam who whipped the ball to the far post - Ollie had gambled and converted with a fine header on the run. From the restart Josh and Sam worked a neat opening for Ben who hit a lovely low drive just the wrong side of the post, unlucky. We hit the break 1-0 up but apart from the goal we hadn't had a single effort on target!
Within 7 minutes of the restart Kyle netted with a lovely drive on the turn but the linesman had spotted his tug on the defender - it was a foul but against the spirit of the officiating where linos do in/out of play, throws and offsides !! Two minutes later Ben was too slow reacting to a through ball which he did reach but couldnt turn back. In the 60th minute a powerful end to end move saw Sam and Olli break at pace, Josh broke with them and finished his strong run with a crushing finish for 2-0, lovely football.
Grange dont know when they're beaten though and 2 minutes later a long throw caused panic in our 6 yard box and the ball ricocheted off Josh for an OG to close it to 2-1. As in past meetings they kept playing the ball over the top constantly looking to turn us but Chippy, Bowles and Neil shielded well by Dazza looked pretty much in control of things. Around the 65th Ben made way for Mark G and Kyle was pushed up top as we sought to stiffen the midfield and stretch them in the space behind. The move almost paid off when Kyle broke in the 68th to set up Ollie but Ollie was again denied by the woodwork. Mark put in some handy, heavy tackles just when we needed that additional strength in middle third. Dazza converted a freekick in the 77th but was adjudged offside, perhaps harshly as arguably it was second phase, in the end it didn't matter. Lee came on for the last 10 as Ollie's running began to take its toll. They did have one sniff to draw level but Glen was quick to see the danger and smother the ball.
We reached the final without ever reaching the heights but this game was all about the "W" and at the business end of the season we know how to deliver. There were some passages of quality play but not many, generally it was a patchy performance with every player exposing some of the poorer aspects of their game - you dont need reminding here and i expect everyone to do better in each game during the run in, lets focus for now on the good things, especially winning.
Back to league duty next week - lets keep the pressure on the top two and see if somebody blinks first!
