|
Starting XI |
|
Stur Star Man:
Erkan Mete |
|
1 |
Alex Dickinson |
|
|
|
2 |
Ryan Hall |
|
Goals: |
|
3 |
Ciaran Miller |
|
Stur: Dave Johnston, Tim Littler, Matt
Wells |
|
4 |
Tim Littler |
|
|
|
5 |
Matt Lambert |
|
|
|
6 |
Erkan Mete |
|
Substitutes |
|
7 |
Dave Johnston |
|
12 |
Aaron Simkins |
|
8 |
Gareth Thomas |
|
14 |
Scott Logan
(for D Johnston 80) |
|
9 |
Matt Jones |
|
15 |
Richard Love |
|
10 |
Matt Wells |
|
16 |
Stuart Lauriston |
|
11 |
Steve Johnston |
|
|
|
After a great result last week, the Reserve side were
looking to improve again against stronger opposition in the form of The
Antelope Inn at Wareham Rec.
With the opposition expected to be challenging at the
top come the end of the season, it was a good opportunity for the reserves
to test themselves against one of the stronger sides in the division.
The game got underway and it seemed both sides were
looking to stamp their authority nice and early. Stur lining up with a
familiar 4-4-2 formation, whilst the home side tried to impose their 4-5-1
system and get their wide men involved as much as possible.
It was Stur who took the early advantage only 9 minutes
in when some good play through midfield saw Matt Wells break down the flank
and cut the ball back for Dave Johnston to slot home from just inside the
area.
The teams seemed pretty evenly matched as the first
half continued, although it was clear Stur provided a greater threat in the
final third but that second goal was just evading the visitors.
Stur saw out the 1st half with a very
composed performance and the experience and composure of Littler and Lambert
in the heart of the Stur defence meant we were rarely troubled.
Half time saw Stur leading 1-0 and the feeling was we
could go on to win this game. Ex-reserve skipper Thomas picked up where he
left off and made sure the lads knew that if they won their personal battles
then our fitness would begin to tell and the Antelope side would soon tire.
The second half was as even as the first with both
sides playing a fair amount of decent football without really troubling the
keepers.
It was to be a set piece that delivered the second goal
of the game midway through the second half. A corner taken by Steve Johnston
was met by Littler, who had arrived late in the box and powered home a
header from 6 yards out.
Finally there was a bit of daylight between the sides
and it was clear the home side were disappointed as their football seemed to
leave the pitch and the all too familiar dirty side of their game
re-appeared. Led by their captain who surely should know better, the home
side looked to dirty tactics to get back into the game and try and unsettle
the young Stur side. Fortunately this didn’t deter the Stur boys from the
task in hand as they laughed off the challenges and continued to play the
game in the right manner and reaped the benefits as they started seeing much
more of the ball.
The game was still hanging in the balance but some
fresh legs were needed to see out the remainder of the game so on came Logan
for Dave Johnston with 10 minutes remaining. The substitution saw Wells move
to left midfield and Logan slot in alongside Jones up front.
Logan continued his promising form so far as he kept
the ball well and was almost handed his second goal of the season, only to
hit the woodwork as he tried to slot home from 6 yards.
The third and final goal of the game came in the last
minute as good hold up play by Logan in the left channel saw him slot the
ball inside to Wells who made no mistake in firing home from the left hand
side of the area into the far right corner. Wells getting the reward for his
hard work in what was his first appearance for the reserves.
The final whistle followed shortly after the third goal
and the Stur side were pleased to have continued their winning ways.
Another great performance, which we will be looking to
build on when we welcome Witchampton to Churchill Close next weekend.
Keep up the good work!!
