Shephall Artois Bookings |
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Colts welcomed back Lane, Freeman and King who had all recovered from injuries for game against Shephall Artois. Hufford was banned so Jones started in goal. Bennett and Bysouth lined up on the wings and Freeman spear headed the front line, Lane was just behind him in midfield with Bartlett and Mullen. King however found himself at a rather unfamiliar left back position.
The first real chance of the game came when King picked up Freeman who brilliantly controlled on his chest and hit a great volley towards goal, the keeper got a good hand on it and some how managed to flick it onto the bar, Freeman was ademant the ball had bounced over the line but the ref was having none of it. The same keeper was again peforming heroics this time saving shots from from Bysouth, Lane, Freeman and Bennett. Lane released Freeman with a sublime ball from the edge of Lane's 18 yd box however Freeman couldnt lift it over the on rushing goalkeeper.
Colts were creating chance after chance and another good attack from Bennett and Bysouth should of resulted in a goal but Bennett couldnt convert and shot over from about 12yds, Bysouth was getting involved alot as King was picking his runs down the channel out, however even with their great dominace Colts were struggling to beat the keeper. At last the deadlocked was finally broken when Mullen whipped in a corner, a header was flicked towards goal and Bennett nodded the ball over the line.
Shephall Artois came straight back and were causing issues from set pieces, they nearly equalised when Jones was beaten from a corner Pallister managed to flick the ball off the back of his foot and round the post to keep Colt's lead. It was to be short lived though as following another set piece resulted in a goal, Jones did brilliantly to tip the initial header onto the bar unfortunately it dropped on the line where the players bundled Jones and the ball over the line. Jones didnt think it crossed the line and if it did he wanted a foul for the pressure he was under.
Second half started and Lane started getting into the game weaving in and out of players but not really managing to get a shot in or create anything, King was still finding Bysouth at every oppurtunity with great chip passes down the wing but again Shephall Artois were holding on. This was mainly due to another goal keeping masterclass but this time it was a different player as the first goalkeeper had withdrew through injury after injuring his hand making a save from Freeman, Bennett must of thought he scored when he attacked the ball at the back post and sent it towards goal, however the keeper out of nowhere managed to get enough on it and palm it away. Bennett had another chance a few mins later at the back post but he couldnt divert his header towards goal.
When Colts did score it was quite a rememorable goal not just for the finish but for the goal scorer as well, the first time Bartlett played Shephall Artois he attempted two crazy over head kicks and got alot of abuse for it from team mates and the opposition. However today he seemed to have the last laugh as he acrobratically finished low and hard into the bottom corner from a very close distance following a free kick whipped in by Whitten.
Troubles flared later on though when their sub got invovled with Pallister, Pallister looked to kick out following a poor tackle, this led to their player trying to get to Pallister fortunately though Lee on the side lines managed to calm the matter down, both players went into the refs book.
Colts managed to see out the final 20mins and take another much needed three points.
MOM : Paul King