With several injuries and a chance to rotate, Manager Chris Gibson tweaked a tired squad but still demanded a win. Without the injured Jordan Alexander, Phil Cowlan and Tom Taylor led the Greens line and were in the thick of it muscling chances around the box. It was defender Alex Burr who had the first opportunity, his shot from a corner blocked on the line. Keiran Wingfield too saw his shot cleared off the line after beating two defenders and rounding the keeper but a defender got back in time. Fakenham also went close, when a scramble bought the best out of Sam Sterna, who acrobatically cleared off his own line. The half did not bring too many other chances, Dan Sterna and Will Seymore going close but the half petered out. The tempo was asked to be raised again, Gibson pushing his wingers on and releasing Will Seymore in an advanced role. The Greens came forward as asked and Seymore, Sterna and Cowlan all went close. Gibson made a double substitution to get a foot hold of the game, Burr and Taylor both carrying knocks were replaced and Simon Murfitt and Sam Cook introduced. Cook instantly grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck, his touch and vision adding a spark as he fed Sterna and Cowlan for chances. Wingfield whipped a cross come shot wide and also hit the side netting from an acute angle. Sterna on the other side jinked his way past three Ghost players only to see his 20 yard shot hit the bar and rebound to safety. But that was to be bettered, as ten minutes later, Sterna done the same but when it looked hed shoot instead rolled a ball across the box for Wingfield to smash home. Josh Nunn came on to bully the Ghost defenders but chances were at a minimum and the whistle went to secure Soham another three points. After the game Gibson was relaxed in his reflection of the game The hardest thing was going to be to motivate the players again after clinching the title early. We looked too relaxed at times and at half time I demanded a little of the competitive arrogance rather than swagger of winning the title. We picked up and class showed in the end which is pleasing. I want to finish the league unbeaten and then the Championship play-off will be nice, but weve got what we set out for now! Clarke, S. Sterna, Burr (Murfitt), Norton, Davis, D. Sterna, Seymore, Kneeshaw (Nunn), Wingfield, Taylor (Cook), Cowlan Not used: Wills, Orvis, Sexton Man of the Match: Blake Kneeshaw
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