Blues are making progress

With this emphatic victory the Blues made it seven points from three games to move up to move up to sixth in the table.

Two goals apiece from the in-form George Lutaaya and recent signing Elliott Bailey, who was making his first start for the Blues following the departure of Tommy Wade to Cheshunt.

As now seems to be their habit, the Blues started at a very high tempo and took the lead in only the third minute. George Lutaaya gained possession on the right-hand side of the box, cut inside his marker and curled a left-footed shot towards the far top corner of the goal. The South Park keeper got his fingertips to the ball but, despite his valiant efforts, he was unable to stop it dropping under his bar and into the net.

Opportunities to increase the lead soon followed with Elliott Bailey heading wide from a Joe Clemo cross in the 13th minute and Charlie Ruff grazing the outside of a post, five minutes later.

The Blues were totally in control of the game but found themselves pegged back as the game approached the half-hour mark when the visitors’ Osei-Obenga ran behind the Blues’ back line to slot past Lamar Johnson, who only a few minutes earlier had been called upon to make a smart save to deny a similar counter-attack.

The equaliser did nothing to halt the Blues’ progress, though, and within four minutes they had regained the lead through Elliott Bailey. With perfect timing, Elliott lost his markers to head George Lutaaya’s excellent cross, firmly past the keeper.

Two became three in the 40th minute when George Lutaaya capitalised on a goalkeeping error by turning in the six-yard box and rolling the ball into the goal from a very narrow angle.

Any hopes that the visitors might have held of a second-half comeback were effectively dispelled within four minutes of the re-start when Elliott Bailey doubled his personal tally to add a fourth for the Blues. Macauley Joynes and David Keenleyside combined well up the left flank and, Elliott put the finishing touches to Macauley’s resulting cross.

Further chances fell to Charlie Ruff (twice), David Keenleyside and Elliott Bailey, but none were taken and so the game ended in a 4-1 victory for the Blues that in no way flattered the Blues.

Team: Lamar Johnson, Joe Clemo, Macauley Joynes, Matt Thomson (Ahmed Mohammed 73’), Jason Beck (Mark Twumasi 52’), Ollie Sharman, David Keenleyside, Jordan Lawal, Elliot Bailey, Charlie Ruff and George Lutaaya (Tyler Hatherly 77’).

Subs not used: Keiran McCaffrey and Charlie Mann.