5th April 2008 - High Brooms Casuals Reserves 3 - 5 EPJFC
Starting Lineup
Nichols |
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Tom Revell |
Meager |
Ryder (2) |
Tony Revell |
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Scott |
Vince |
Lardner |
Willett |
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Hayes (1) |
Howell (2) |
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Substitutes Used
Mark Philpott > Dean Hayes
Report
Juniors produced a brilliant second half performance to fight back from a half time deficit in terrible conditions at High Brooms, leaving them within touching distance of the league title in their debut season.
Juniors started with Howell and Hayes up front in place of the injured Jennings and unavailable Blundell. Philpott started on the bench with Meager taking the arm band.
The away side started much the brighter of the two teams and within the first 5 minutes their pressure was rewarded, as Howell chased a long ball from Rob Vince before laying it back to Hayes who rifled in a low right foot shot from the edge of the box, finding the bottom corner. Juniors kept the pressure on the High Brooms back line, and were unlucky to find themselves back on level terms soon after taking the lead. High Brooms tricky left winger took advantage of Juniors mistakes before cutting inside and curling a shot goal wards, the initial shot was tipped onto the bar by Nichols, before the ball was eventually headed home giving High Brooms a scrappy equaliser.
It seemed as if this was the wake up call Juniors needed as they were soon camped in the High Brooms half of the field again, and very nearly retook the lead, when a superb ball into the box was met brilliantly by Vince but his header cannoned back off of the bar to safety. Juniors didn’t have long to wait before finding the net again, Hayes cutting in from the right hand side of the box before firing a shot that looked destined for the top corner, the initial shot hit the bar, but Brett Howell scored his 12th goal of the season snaffling up the rebound.
Again though Juniors instigated their own downfall when in possession of the ball. The hardworking High Brooms midfielder robbing the ball before neatly splitting the East Peckham backline with a ball that left their striker through on goal and he coolly slotted home.
As the half time whistle approached, Juniors were looking more off the pace and again a defensive error cost the away side, the skilful left winger cut inside before placing a curling shot into the far top corner of the net. Juniors had gone from leading to losing in the space of minutes.
Juniors went into half time facing the prospect of their first league defeat of the season. Strong words were said and the away side came out for the second half with a renewed vigour. The central midfield partnership of Lardner and Scott were battling hard again the commanding High Brooms captain, restricting his creativity, and when he did get the better of them, the back line held strong and repelled the attack. With around 10 minutes of the half gone, Philpott replaced Hayes upfront and soon became the focus of Juniors attacks, combing well with Willett on the left hand side of the pitch. As Juniors pressure seemed as if it wasn’t going to pay, Dave Ryder broke out from centre back with the ball and kept advancing as the High Brooms players backed off, Ryder then scored a contender for goal of the season as he spotted the keeper off his line and lobbed him from fully 30 yards, if not more.
3-3 and the relief of the Juniors players was clear to see, as they then went from strength to strength, showing why they sit on top of the table. Juniors were pressing on more and more and were twice denied by good goalkeeping from the High Brooms keeper, superbly tipping over a long range effort from Philpott before saving well from Howell with his legs.
Despite having all of the pressure, Juniors almost found themselves behind again as the High Brooms left winger broke through the middle of the pitch before firing a powerful shot at goal from the edge of the box, which Nichols tipped over at full stretch.
Eventually High Brooms resilience was broken when the ball was played through to Howell who controlled well before slotting home his 13th goal of the season.
A one goal lead never seemed like it would be enough as High Brooms had already shown they were capable of playing good football. Juniors went looking for the 5th goal which would surely confirm their brilliant comeback, and it eventually came once again from the unlikeliest of sources, again Ryder broke out of defence on the left hand side with pace and played a neat one two before firing a shot across the keeper into the far corner, taking the centre back’s tally to an impressive 8 goals so far this season and confirming Juniors 6 point lead at the top of the table. EPFC!