A night to remember - not!

A crowd of 95 on a cold, sometimes windy and sometimes wet evening saw a far from classic game of football dominated by the ‘Sarnies’.

The visitors side started brightly - setting the tone for the match - forcing the early pace - and seemed more up for it - winning second balls and closing down the ‘Scholars’ all over the pitch denying them space and time on the ball.

The ball was played through the middle and Will Wambeek took a caution for the team to stop the break away.

Looking the more dangerous it was no surprise when on 19 mins the visitors scored the opening goal when a free kick from the left was played into the box, won by a forward to play it to Ryan Phillips to fire through defenders legs and past the keeper.

It was 2-0 on 30 mins when a low cross from the left was scrambled home at the far post by Chris Moore.

Then their centre forward curled a shot from the edge of the box just past the left hand post.

To add to the home side woes on the stroke of half time Callum Webb was allowed to drift in from the right and go past two defenders to prod home for a third.

In response the first half had seen little threat to the opposition goal.

The second half started with a more determined, positive approach from the home side - seeing more of the ball going forward but still no direct threat to their goal.

Even the introduction of subs Max Holland and Danny Hart did not open up their defence.

With time running out suddenly the home side sprung to life.

Will Wambeek played the ball through to Danny Hart who shot wide. Then Max Holland charged through into the box finding Ashley Nathaniel-George whose shot was kicked off the line as far as Joe Bennett whose shot was then cleared off the line by another defender.

Then their defender Callum Webb was shown a red card for a dangerous tackle in the corner.

The free kick was cleared for a corner - the corner was hit through the six yard box and cleared for yet another corner - that corner was headed on in the six yard box for a defender to scramble away for yet another corner. The resultant corner was cleared and the final whistle sounded.

Too little, too late for what would have only been a consolation goal or two.

The ‘Scholars’ were unable to deal with their intensity and greater determination - very much a below par performance on the night.

‘The Scholars’ remain 7th and five points off the play off places.

Team: Berkley Laurencin, Chris Doyle, Garry Jones, Carl McCluskey, Will Wambeek, Rob Hastings (Max Holland 65 mins), Joe Bennett, Ryan Forde, Michael Murray (Danny Hart 70 mins), Eoin Casey, Ashley Nathaniel-George.

Sub unused: Jordan Lawal, Alfie Gibbs, Shane Gilsenan.

Man of the Match: Joe Bennett - never gave up for 90 mins.

Updated 23:50 - 2 Sep 2019 by Jeff Barnes