Yaxley take the points home

Thurnby came into this game on the back of successive victories and were looking for their third in a row. Yaxley have also been in impressive form and were lying in 2nd in the table prior to this tie. Thurnby welcomed Melbourne back in the squad and there were changes in the team with Phillips replacing L Day and King replacing Biggs in the middle of the park.

There was a fast tempo to the game straight from the off and you would have expected better from Day when well placed in the Yaxley box for his cross/shot to evade everyone in the area in the first 5 minutes.

Yaxley then took the lead after only 6 minutes, What looked like a foul on Morris, Yaxley dispossessed the striker and fed the right winger through when a cross from was not dealt with by the Thurnby defence, Cotton found himself at the back post unmarked and managed to finish well by placing the ball under Flinders in the Thurnby goal. With Yaxley in the driving seat, they then had further good chances to extend their lead but were unable to put them away giving Thurnby further lifelines to get back into this tie.

2 Minutes before the half time whistle, Gonga played a precise through ball behind the Yaxley defence for Canavan to run onto, only for a Yaxley defender to clip Canavans heels when 1 on 1 but somehow the referee declined to award a foul for Thurnby and labelled the incident a collision of both players leaving an uproar from the Thurnby management team.
Half time Thurnby 0 – 1 Yaxley

Thurnby came racing out the blocks in the second half and tried to exert as much pressure as possible on the visitors only for a kick in the teeth, when Brookes ‘ crossfield pass was placed straight to the opposition, Cotton made no mistake from 20 yards when he dropped his shoulder and released a fierce drive into the top right corner of the net to get his second of the game and putting Yaxley 2-0 up.

Changes were being made from the Thurnby bench and Melbourne was introduced back into the action for his first appearance in several weeks. On 55 Minutes Thurnby were handed a big chance to get back in the game when what looked like a very soft foul on Potter, the referee had no hesitation in pointing to the spot with Ash Day scoring for the 5th League game running when the keeper guessed correctly but was unable to keep his effort out.

This goal gave Thurnby some much needed confidence and it looked as though the tables were turning on 65 minutes when Day strolled past the full back and pulled back to Canavan 10 yards from goal who smashed the ball home into the roof of the net to leave the scores level with a further 25 minutes left to play.

The Thurnby tails were not up for long though, when a Yaxley crossfield pass caught the Thurnby defence napping and somehow found the feet of Reed 10 yards from goal who had the simple task of finishing past Flinders and giving the visitors the lead once again.
Further sloppy play on 72 minutes seen a pass from Brookes give Yaxley Possession and Yaxley were to make the home side pay when left 2 on 2 with the Thurnby defence, Yaxley midfielder Hughes made a 40 yard run and was played in to slot past Flinders giving them a 2 goal deficit and leaving Thurnby with barely any hope of getting any thing from the game.

Luke Day and Patrocinio were introduced 15 minutes from time and it was only 2 minutes later when Day played Patrocinio in, Patrocinio looked to be through 1 on 1 but was taken out by the Yaxley defender with the referee only giving the free kick and the defender somehow escaping a booking when it looked like the defender was the last man.

With no further goals in the game, the final result ending up Yaxley 4 Thurnby 2 in what was a very disappointing day for the home side after several errors and poor defending proved to be costly.

Thurnby now travel away to Huntingdon Saturday 20th September in which is set to be their biggest challenge yet with Huntingdon claiming maximum points so far this season in the league.

Man of the Match- Mwanyongo, Proved to be a real issue for the visitors with his trickery and was a threat all afternoon.