After a recent slump in their early season form, Sturminster travelled away to Swanage hopeful of changing their recent fortunes and recording their first points in 3 games. A boggy pitch with areas of standing water was not ideal, and more likely to suit the home side, but the Stur squad were confident that they could stop the rot and begin to accumulate points once more.

The game started in relatively scrappy fashion, as was to be expected with the underfoot conditions. However when Stur did get the ball down and play they were playing some attractive stuff. One worry was the defensive third, which was by far the worst area of the pitch and one where unfortunate mistakes could be made without caution. Both sides were undoubtedly tentative and it took until midway through the half for the deadlock to be broken. A ball into Goodwin's feet resulted in the forward being fouled just outside the Swanage box. After deliberation with Manuel, Gage took the free kick, taking advantage of a poor wall and striking low into the right-hand corner. 1-0.

At this point, the away side slipped into recent habits and switched off, allowing a lack of communication and poor decisions to allow Swanage back into the game. They were only saved when the home side twice hit the bar, once from a fantastic save by Shear. At the other end, an open goal fell to Thomas who stumbled in the conditions and inexplicably didn't connect with a cross. Again midfield runners were not tracked by Marshall and Shear was to the rescue again, turning a goal-bound effort around the post. And so it followed that the two teams entered the break with just one goal to separate them, but Stur were certainly fortunate to be level.

Not long after the break, Stur earned a corner wide and deep on the right which Neville drove in dangerously towards the back post. As Goodwin attacked it, a defender inadvertently deflected the cross into the top corner and the gap between the two sides opened up.

Despite recent jitters, Stur came out after this and stringed together some wonderful moves, playing with the freedom and creativity of a side in control. Good work down the right between Geddes and Williams resulted in a cross which bypassed Goodwin and left an open goal gaping at the mercy of Manuel. Uncharacteristically, the league's top scorer managed to put the ball into the side netting to his and his team mates' dismay. Nevertheless, following an injury to the opposition keeper, the front man was not to be denied for long when a forward took up his position in between the sticks. Good link up between the subs Logan and Luke Geddes meant that Manuel had a run in on goal from the left. From a tough angle he made no mistake in slotting the ball high and past the keeper's despairing dive. 3-0.

The final goal came through great work from the impressive captain, Williams, who had hassled and harried the opposition all day. After once again winning a great tackle, he got to his feet to link up well again down the right with L. Geddes, who played the ball back to the onrushing Goodwin, who caressed the ball into the corner from 12 yards out. 4-0 and the away side were now dominating the game.

The final minutes of the game were played out with little chances made, although Stur were now mainly concerned with ensuring a clean sheet, which they duly managed.

Particularly in the second half, an effective team performance with good communication, teamwork and passing ability shown. This must be taken forward and improved upon if the Green Army are to match a strong Portland side at Churchill Close next week.