Mattishall: 1 George Pledger, 2 Joe Marczewski, 3 Darren Critchlow, 4 Josh Macann, 5 Lee Moran, 6 George Gagen, 7 George Watts-Sturrock, 8 Ben Gillies (C), 9 Jake Anema, 10 Sam Applegate, 11 Jason Cole. Subs: 12 Luke Catchpole, 14 Darren Palmer & 15 Conner Delaney.

Blofield United: 1 Ryan Hemmings, 2 Ashley Mitchell, 3 Peter Nobbs, 4 Steve McNicholas , 5 Craig Page, 6 Matty Banham (C), 7 Ben Morgan , 8 Dan Stobbart, 9 Chris Holmes, 10 Steve Burdett, 11 Charlie Monaghan. Subs: 12 Duncan Whitlam, 14 Mark Baxter & 15 Troy Lowthorpe.

Blofield started with an unchanged team on a run of eight straight victories which had taken them to the top of the table. Keeper Ryan Hemmings was limping before the game kicked off and had to be replaced after just 15 minutes by captain Matty Banham in goal, Duncan Whitlam joining the action and Dan Stobbart moving back to partner Craig Page in central defence.

The Blues started the stronger on a heavy pitch with Jason Cole marauding down the left flank. Darren Critchlow played the ball forward to Jake Anema in space on the left, he rolled the ball across but Steve McNicholas blocked the effort on goal.

After Chris Holmes’ short corner, Ashley Mitchell was poleaxed by Cole’s tackle in the penalty area but referee Mr Andrew Waite waved the loud penalty appeals away.

Ben Morgan chested the ball down for Holmes but Lee Moran was quick to avert the danger from Blofield’s leading goalscorer. At the other end, Josh Maccan rose highest to head over the bar from a corner kick.

Blofield opened the scoring after 28 minutes when Ben Morgan and Ashley Mitchell exchanged passes on the right, Charlie Monaghan picked the ball up in the area, turned to beat the defender and deliver a great cross which Chris Holmes met superbly to strike the ball past George Pledger for his 22nd goal of the season.

The Blues responded with Jason Cole beating Mitchell on the left wing, cutting inside to shoot but Matty Banham got down low to save at the near post. Peter Nobbs made a fine tackle to block George Gagen’s shot after Sam Applegate had slipped the ball through, then Cole put Applegate away down the left, he took Dan Stobbart on, chipped the ball across from the byline, but Peter Nobbs made another vital interception to prevent George Watts-Sturrock from scoring at the far post. Half Time: 0-1

The home team came out all guns blazing second half and only some last-gasp defending by stand-in keeper Banham and Craig Page from Sam Applegate’s effort kept the visitors ahead after Jake Anema had burst through the middle.

Duncan Whitlam was beginning to exert his strength in midfield and, after Holmes was brought down whilst receiving Whitlam’s pass, Blofield were awarded a free kick 25 yards out on the left. Ben Morgan took charge to curl the ball powerfully over the wall into the empty left hand side of the goal for Blofield’s second goal after 51 minutes.

It could have been 3-0 minutes later after calm play by Whitlam found Morgan, Ben put it forward to Holmes who controlled the ball and, with Pledger racing off his line, chipped the keeper only to see the ball roll just past the left hand post.

The game changed dramatically in Mattishall’s favour after this near-miss with Blofield sitting back on their two-goal lead, always a dangerous strategy. The ball flashed across the Blofield goal, just evading Darren Palmer after Anema’s cross from the right. The defensive combination of Banham and Page made another last gasp intervention after a free kick on the left by Applegate. Matty Banham flung himself to his left to push the ball round the post after Luke Catchpole had beaten Stobbart, but from the resulting corner kick, Mattishall deservedly pulled a goal back when Darren Critchlow rose above everyone to powerfully head home after 67 minutes.

Pledger made a great save from McNicholas flying in to meet Morgan’s corner kick but, with 15 minutes to go, the Blues began to win the ball all over the pitch and a succession of corners. Banham got down well again to push the ball wide from Darren Palmer then caught Ben Gillies long range shot.

In an exciting extra 7 minutes after normal time, Chris Holmes won a corner off Maccan which he took short to Morgan, Ben tricked the defender in the corner then beat two more defenders along the byline to set up Mark Baxter, but when he swung his left peg at the ball, his shot was blocked.

Watts-Sturrock blazed over after Blofield had backed off Applegate’s direct run. After 93 minutes, George Pledger went forward into the box for a free kick, McNicholas then Page made the clearance to Whitlam, Steve Burdett played Holmes in who was tackled at the vital moment as he shot towards the unguarded net, the ball going high and wide.

The home team will feel disappointed to take nothing away from the game after having much the better of the second half, but clinical finishing from Chris Holmes and Ben Morgan were the difference between the two teams. Stand-in keeper and captain Matty Banham made three fine saves and was the inspiration for the victory to keep Blofield’s winning run going.