But not even the fog could hide the fact that Daventry Town have now gone five games without a victory, just three points from the last six games, the latest setback coming on Friday evening to championship contenders Godalming Town by 2-1.
Jamie McClurg set up the first attack on goal for Godalming, hitting a fine pass through to striker Scott Harris, who narrowly failed to connect, as the ball ran away from him, and into the arms of keeper Richard Morris. Godalming were breaking out of defence very quickly, creating several goal scoring chances on the Daventry goal, Ross Oulton having to blocking a shot from Scott Harris in the twenty first minute, one of many!
Daventry were hugely disappointed, when influential defender Liam Dolman had to be substituted with a foot injury, Josh Blake coming on to join Ashley Robinson up front, and Eyasin Hussein falling back in to midfield. Ashley Robinson should have got his shot on target, when put through by Ross Oulton on the left, but he hit his shot into the side netting, failing to trouble the G`s keeper Jake Somerville.
Robinson was soon to make up for his earlier poor effort!
Out of the fog, Robinson appeared running free with the ball, looking left and right for an available pass, but then realising that the defenders were backing off him, he unleashed a cracking shot from thirty yards, which sailed over the head of the stranded Godalming keeper, to rattle the underside of the crossbar, bounce down and fall into the net, giving Robinson one of the goals of the season and Daventry an unexpected lead.
Godalming were thrown a fortunate opportunity to get back into the game soon after, Guy Sanders was judged to have pushed Warren Harris as he hit a shot at goal, which Morris saved, free kick specialist Warren Harris got to his feet and took the kick himself.
Harris picked his spot with power and precision, hitting the ball like a rocket, sending it to the left of a well beaten Richard Morris.
Godalming were beginning to show why they were at the top of the table, another effort on goal was blocked by Guy Sanders for a corner, and Scott Harris shot wide from a Jack Broome free kick, which rebounded into his path. Daventry were missing the defensive organisational qualities that the missing Liam Dolman brings to the side, sometimes struggling to prevent the pacey breaks of the Godalming forward play.
Daventry were still chewing on their half time oranges, when Godalming took the lead in the first minute of play, in the second half. It was left to Jonnie Dyer to score, what proved to be the winning goal, as he did way back in October, Godalming quickly broke from the kick off, Dyer finding the ball at his feet, right of the penalty area, and he composed himself and hit a perfectly placed shot past a hesitant Richard Morris.
Godalming took off Dyer in the fifty fifth minute and replaced him with tricky winger Darren Wheeler, and Nat Liburd made an appearance for Daventry, instead of the ineffectual Yas Hussein.
An excellent passing move from Godalming, of between ten to fifteen passes, ended with Morris being forced to tip a shot over the cross bar, as the Godalming forwards once again, broke through the Daventry defence.
Daventry then began to pepper the Godalming goal, in the last twenty five minutes, with several attempts of their own, a free kick from Guy Sanders smashed into the defensive wall, and Ashley Robinson was presented with a clear opening, right in front of goal, but his hurried shot went well wide.
Josh Blake managed to beat the keeper with a shot on goal, but his effort was shepherded away from crossing the line, by a Godalming defender. Both Marcus Jackson and Ross Holford, off to play `soccer` in the states for the summer, saw efforts blocked or saved, as Daventry began to build up a concentrated attack on the Godalming goal.
Jamie Gould was replaced by Mykel Beckley in an attempt to give Daventry more striking options, as they pushed forward for a deserved equaliser. Guy Sanders had another free kick tipped over the bar by the excellent Godalming keeper Jake Somerville, who had a very good game in the second half, managing to smother shots, tip over or block shots, from an increasingly desperate Daventry attack.
Daventry were unlucky not to take at least a point from this game, against one of the division’s best sides, but the table does not lie, Daventry have now gone five matches without a victory, three points from their last six matches! What promised to be an exciting season for the club, is slowly beginning to fade away with a whimper!
Next up for Daventry Town, is another home game on Tuesday (12/03/13) against Slough Town, who are pushing on for promotion, finally playing football matches and ticking off the games they had lost due to the appalling weather and their wonderful FA Cup run.

Up the Town

©JWD