MATCH REPORT: Reserves vs Willingdon Athletic

Returning to league action for the first time in a month, the Reserves secured a point in an even match of contrasting styles.

The early stages saw the greens on top with some good passages of passing especially down the left where cultured full back Will Sutton was combining well with Khaled Zabadne. Corners were forced, crosses delivered but ultimately chances limited by good defending. The right flank also created where the more senior citizens of Mike Hodges & Elliott Wilkins showed a telepathic understanding, probably from coffee mornings in the nursing home, but crosses flashed dangerously across goal with attackers watching rather than anticipating.

The visitors then started to get joy from long diagonal passes & late pacy runs beyond the back line. However Lewis Bowen, back in goal after a 4 week holiday (or so his brother said!) was able to easily deal with the threat. Big Lew was a bystander though when a shot from the impressive Xhogu crashed back off the post & into the keepers arms.

Stalemate at half time was fair.

The second half was a similar affair with the greens showing some good passages of passing play mixed with misplaced final passes & the dons hitting impressive long raking passes that put the home defence under pressure. When the visitors did try a shorter game plan they were thwarted by the industry & tenacity of both Jack Birdsall & player of the match Rich Holman. The player manager showing great endeavour on numerous occasions to cover every blade of grass on the pitch to extinguish danger.

As the game entered its final throws substitute Sam Murray, returning after a long injury hiatus saw his shot canon to safety off the cross bar & then Ryan Blackstone fired over when well placed after lovely combination play between substitute Oskar Furman & Mike Peevor. A final mention must go to Peevor who ran his heart out all afternoon to try to create the winning goal, fuelled by vegetarian sausage rolls & 5 pints of water!

Everyone will have their own views as to whether this was a point won or two points dropped, but all were in agreement that Jack “Duracell bunny” Turner won the loudest most incessant encouragement award with his debut in the dug out!

Squad: Bowen, Hodges, Draper, Ridley (c),Sutton, Birdsall, Holman, Wilkins, Peevor, Zabadne, Blackstone

Subs used: Fothergill, Butterfield, Wiles, Murray, Furman

Player of match: Holman