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Spixworth FC 1 Blofield United 2
Early goals by Ben Morgan and Danny McKail seal the victory in a full-blooded encounter at Crostwick Lane, the Rattler reports...
Team: Ryan Hemmings, Matty Banham, Darren Cox, Stuart Rushbrook, Kris Hart (C), Karl Mills, James Basey-Fisher, Duncan Whitlam, Ben Morgan, Chris Holmes, Danny McKail. Subs: Liam Barnes, Chris Stocker & Simon Blowers.
On a wet and windy afternoon both teams kicked off with players absent, Colin Wines and Greg Murphy for Blofield and Danny and Sean Brown for Spixworth, whilst ex-Beavers Chris O’Brien and Roy Bevis led the home attack.
The Beavers started in confident fashion winning a penalty after 10 minutes for pushing in the box as Ben Morgan crossed from the right. Ben Gowing went into the book before Morgan coolly placed the ball wide of Ross Bilham’s right hand for his 17th goal of the season. The kick-off was held up whilst Adam Ferguson talked himself into referee Paul Goldsmith’s book. The Beavers were playing with good width and 2 minutes later James B-F spread the ball wide for Matty Banham and his superb cross from the right was met by Danny McKail, falling to ground with a diving header, but still managing to hook the ball past Bilham into the far corner for 2-0. In a good spell for Spixworth, Jason Armes dispossessed Basey-Fisher, but Ryan Hemmings came quickly off his line to block Bevis, then when Blofield failed to clear, Hemmings got down well to save from Scott Sell. Jody Cork was booked for dissent as he left the pitch at half time.
Spixworth came out strongly second half and pulled a goal back after 54 minutes when Cork’s long ball forward was allowed to bounce and Jason Armes chipped the ball over Hemmings into the net. In a fine attacking move, Karl Mils found space to play the ball to Whitlam who fed Morgan cutting inside the area from the left, his low cross was picked up by Chris Holmes who knocked the ball back in from the byline. Mark Bloomfield almost found his own net before Bilham just managed to beat McKail to the ball. Spixworth had a goal disallowed when Sell broke away and Bevis chipped the ball across but the Assistant’s flag went up a long time before the ball was put in the net. Another good move by Spixworth saw Devin Blundell slip past Darren Cox, Bevis found Armes in a good position on the left but he fired over. The two-man wall of Basey-Fisher and Whitlam thwarted Armes’ free kick and Whitlam knocked the ball forward to Holmes who beat Gowing but placed his shot just wide of the right hand post. At the other end, Basey-Fisher gave away a free kick which Armes delivered into the danger zone, James headed the ball out and Hartie threw himself to deflect Ferguson’s shot wide. Liam Blofeld and Scott Sell went into the book as the tackles went flying in and the final chance fell to Cork who headed Bilham’s free kick wide at the far post.
This was a hard-earned victory against an uncompromising team In a game of seven bookings, five to Spixworth, we were fortunate to finish with all 22 players on the pitch. The Rattler’s man of the match goes to Matty Banham for some superb play whilst Ryan Hemmings seems to grow with confidence after each game. Next week we have a break from league action in the Mummery Cup semi-final away at Reepham Town, kick-off 2pm. Click on the link for directions to the ground;-