Report by Jools Thomas
Chances were rare for both teams, and the tactics employed particularly by an FC team relying on the high ball, led to a game of low quality and entertainment.
The first move of note saw Jeanmal Prosper fire in a low cross shot on six minutes but Ty Deacon could only make the briefest of connections and the chance sliced wide. Ty lost the ball in the next piece of play and only his backtracking prevented the Duck’s Jake Bewley a run on goal. Greg Williams headed just over the bar on 13 minutes before David Haule hit a powerful volley wide of the goal. Prosper attempted another volley from a corner but again the result was the same with the ball flying wide of the mark.
Dijon Noel Williams was involved in a race with James Weatherill on 32 minutes with the FC stopper gathering safely. Ollie Hogg then supplied a decent cross to Greg Williams whose flicked header was directly into the arms of Weatherill. Lee Coulter should have given his side the lead a few moments later when he had just to meet a quality cross from the left however, he took his eye from the ball and the chance went away. All this pressure had to tell and eventually the goal came. FC failed to clear their lines before Jack Wood lifted the ball from an acute angle over Weatherill and into the corner of the goal. It was no more than the Ducks deserved for a period of sustained pressing.
Shortly after the break, Matt Cruse was replaced by Aston Goss to add more spice to the attack. Just afterwards, a Ty Deacon shot whistled over the bar when a little composure was required. Another change came about on 65 minutes when Harry Scott replaced Prosper and this allowed FC to play the ball along the ground more as opposed to the ineffective high ball employed thus far.
Ducks’ keeper Jack Sillitoe made his first save of the game midway through the second period, stooping low to gather a Kieron Schmidt effort after the midfielder had made a forceful run from midfield. Harry Scott then laid on an exceptional cross with 12 minutes to go however no teammate was in the box and at the other end, Ollie Hogg had a half chance that Weatherill collected without too much trouble. In the last minute, another great cross this time by Kieron Schmidt was again ignored by colleagues and that was the sum of FC’s efforts.
# | Team | Pl | Pts |
16. | Egham Town | 42 | 48 |
17. | Northwood | 42 | 41 |
18. | Hanwell Town | 42 | 34 |
19. | Fleet Town | 42 | 34 |
20. | Barton Rovers | 42 | 33 |
21. | Aylesbury | 42 | 33 |
22. | Arlesey Town | 42 | 14 |