With Chris Clark, Will Salmon, Les Barkers-Obua, Prince Nimoh and Connor Blake it showed the improvement in numbers of players recruited that we were able to supply 3 players to the A team and still travel with 15 for the 110 mile return journey.

The Ressies are currently on a rich vein of form but were reminded before the game that somewhere on our path to challenging for the League title there will be a banana skin and the secret is to put it off for as long as possible.

Ironically ,this was our worst performance for quite some time . Our opponents kicked off with 10 players and from their kick off we forced a mistake and from the resultant throw in Linus Kusi got to the byline and from his cross Joe Naylor opened his and our account in 35 SECONDS. From the kick off we once again pressed and after a bright run by skipper Gareth Terbalanche, Clem Asante opened his Club account on 1 minute 44 seconds. Amazingly Frankie Hercules should have scored a 3rd but blazed over before our opponents reached their full complement.

There now followed of what can only be described as unadulterated dross from ourselves. A 3rd goal(a second for Joe Naylor,who is now the Leagues leading goal scorer) killed the game .We then showed a lack of pace, sloppiness and general malaise in our play.

At half time it was pointed out in measured tones that although it was easy to understand why we were so poor it was not acceptable.

It would be easy to say there was a massive improvement in the second half BUT it certainly wouldn't be true. For 20 mins both sides huffed and puffed and put on a desultory exhibition before an overhit free kick by Will Foley floated over the keeper. Super sub Alvin Magmanada scored a good goal,from the best move of the half and an own goal forced by a combination of Joe Naylor and Clem Asante rounded off the scoring.

To play that poorly and win so convincingly is some consolation and a great save from 17 year old David Saunders preserved our 4th consecutive clean sheet as we moved into 2nd place after 1 defeat in 10.

We will have to be much better away at 3 rd place Westfield next.

Team: D.Saunders. M.Stacey, J.Nketia, G.Terblanche.W.Foley, H.Gutsell (A. gmanada), B.Busari, F.Hercules (E.Ghedjade) C.Asante, J.Naylor, L.Kusi (A.Holmes)

Tweet