Side Out Of Vase

Michael Walther's team had the first chance of the game after 10 minutes. Mattheus Santos doing well to pick out forward Tony Cookey, but good work by Whitton keeper Ross Welton saw the goal-bound strike blocked out for a corner.

Two minutes later Thurlow Nunn outfit Whitton were ahead when a long ball over 'Side's defence fell to Franco Mallardo. The forward coolly finishing past Will Hunt, much to the delight of the visiting supporters.

Cookey was looking a threat for 'Side but good defending by Scott Marjoram and Gavin Flurrie prevented the forward from having efforts on goal, when in good position in the area.

Whitton were having chances of their own with Harry Wales seeing a shot tipped wide by Hunt, before the keeper tipped a free-kick out for a corner shortly after. However from the resulting corner Wales headed home to make it 2-0 for the visitors with only 23 minutes on the clock.

'Side's first-half continued to worsen when they fell 3-0 behind on 38 minutes. Lloyd Clarke sent over a great ball from the right touchline for Whitton which Ryan Rampley controlled before firing a right-footed strike past Hunt.

In the final moments of the half 'Side almost grabbed a consolation. First Euan Taylor-Reid after seeing a shot blocked by a defender had a rebound saved by Welton, before the keeper tipped a Mattheus Santos free-kick over. Whitton could have gone into half-time 4-0 up but Hunt saved well from Alex Breadman.

Changes were made early in the second-half for ‘Side with Raphael Duyile and Inesh Sunithran coming on for Joe Newbold and David Etcheri. Both substitutes made an impact with Sunithran putting in a great cross moments after his arrival which Cookey almost diverted in.

Hunt in goal for ‘Side was having a good game and he tipped a Breadman header onto a post. Shortly after that 'Side were back in the game following two quick strikes in succession. First on 71 minutes Duyile chased down a through ball, scoring his first goal for the club by placing the ball in under Welton. Then five minutes later a corner across the goalmouth found Cookey at the back-post, who headed home to reduce the arrears by one.

Incredibly 'Side went close to completing the comeback but Jezreel David headed over from another corner. That was Walther's men's final chance of the game, but not the final chance of the game which fell to Rampley who saw a close-range effort saved by Hunt.

‘Side: Will Hunt, Joe Newbold (Raphael Duyile) , Michael Sherwood (Ricardo Bailey), David Etcheri (Inesh Sunithran), Euan Taylor-Reid, Michael Bottone, Bradley Joseph, Jezreel David, Michael Ogboin, Mattheus Santos, Tony Cookey.

Subs Not Used: Leon Lewis, Gareth Jones