Match Report

As mentioned last week a large squad means QUALITY on the bench and the names of Brazier, Viner, Morton, Sheppard and Burford would be disappointed this week.

The named 11 took to the turnip field to play a young Long Lane Reserves that look like they could be going up in their first season together.

The hot weather made the playing conditions very difficult and team members had to be very careful. As always Paul (Careful) Parsons had brought his protection in the shape of Sultan factor 15.

We started okay and showed our greater experience to pressure the Long Lane youngsters, doing the basics like chasing down every ball and challenging for the second, all things we are told to do every week. We pushed on and won a penalty after a foul on Ben T.

Alex stepped up for the penalty after getting the nod in the changing room from the Boss...he just put his hand up before Ben Duffy…!

Alex smashed the ball away well and at this stage we looked like we were the better side.

After our early pressure a corner by Long Lane was put into the corridor of uncertainty. This corridor is getting bigger and is now known as the penalty area. 1-1 and it was up to us to regain the upper hand. This extra pressure enabled us to push on for our second after MOM Todd Arnold hit a floating ball over the Long Lane defence for Ben Duffy to collect in his stride and slot away very well.

Approaching half time we were in front, in charge and looking like we were going on to beat a team above us in the league for the first time this season.

This did not happen as a corner floated into the box caused total confusion. Ivor fouled, Paul (Careful) Parsons'' alleged infringement and a referee that called a penalty as everyone was walking away from the goal. A good effort from Ivor, but the ball slipped in under him…!

2-2 at half time and FOBG feeling that we should have been in front on the balance of play. We should have taken heart from this, but did not put the same sort of pressure on Long Lane in the second half. Brazier was sent on for an injured Harding with about 30 minutes remaining.

Yet another corner was not dealt with, and Long Lane moved in front for the first time in the match. A lack of chances or ideas from FOBG in the second half was disappointing and the game ended 3-2. A chance for this defeat to be avenged on Wednesday and then I believe a curry.

Thanks to Pete Morton for doing the line all game.