Ottery B 3 - 4 Taunton CS A

Magnificent fightback inspires third win of the season for Civil.

Taunton CS A took another changed squad into a game that was to be the closest and most exciting of the season. Starts for Nathan, Mark and a season debut for ‘veteran’ Terry Harris meant that while different from the team that lost 10 – 1 to Torbay, Civil had reason to be optimistic. The game started in as dramatic a style as in was to continue with Mark Sawyer passing 4 Ottery players on route to a 20th second first shot a goal which was impressively saved by the Ottery keeper. Another chance followed shortly after when Nathan Boundy played Mark through who played a deft 1 – 2 with Andy Carter but was once again denied by the on form Ottery keeper. Ottery broke out of the D quickly and after a slight tangle for the ball and a minor disagreement with the umpire Andy Carter saw a green card and a stern warning. Ottery’s first attack of the game saw the ball drop to an attacker on the edge of the Civil D and a lack of pressure gave Ottery the opening goal. Shortly after they added a second and Civil began to lose their shape and their cool. Civil wide player Finn Kearney then dropped the ball back to Andy Carter who floated the ball into the D with Ben Caile amazingly flicking the ball into the net from a yard behind him. A truly phenomenal goal ruled out due to the height of the ball into the D. Half time couldn’t come soon enough and the Civil team talk was quiet and calm yet purposeful. Civil came out of the blocks fighting and pressuring for possession across the park. However on the counter attack Ottery scored a third and the game appeared lost. Civil kept fighting and a string of short corners put pressure on the Ottery goal but goals still evaded the Civil team. Tensions frayed and the cleanest player in the squad Vincent Kearney saw a green card during a ‘discussion’ with an umpire. Ten minutes to go and a Civil short corner hit the back of the net but unfortunately it was too high and for the second time in the game Service were legitimately denied a goal. Shortly after this however, Civil finally converted a short corner thanks to a precise shot from Nathan Boundy. Civil had scored a highly earned conciliation goal, or so it seemed…

Pressure was placed upon the Ottery players immediately after the pushback and Civil broke through an excellent run from right back Jason Harris. As the ball bobbled across the goal Ben Caile was on hand to tap in and give Civil a much need boost and a feeling that they might salvage a point. An Ottery attack from the restart broke down and a Civil counter found the ball being rolled across to Nathan Boundy on the edge of the D who smashed the ball off of the underside of the crossbar and into the net to level the score at 3 – 3 with only 1 minute 30 to go in the game. A quick attack from Ottery meant a 2 on 2 in the Civil D and a game saving stop was made by keeper Dan Adams. The ball was crashed clear by Terry Harris and picked up by Andy Carter on the half way line who drew 3 defenders before slipping the ball left to Mark Sawyer who was wide open and dribbled into the D and passed the ball across the keeper to the top of the D. A tangle ensued and eventually the ball was put over the line by Mark Sawyer to cap off a fine fight back and win from Taunton Civil Service A. Well done and thank you to all of the team and to man of the match Nathan Boundy.