Blues undone by two ‘worldies’
Two cracking goals either side of half-time ultimately proved to be decisive in a game that saw the Blues piling pressure on the South Park goal but able to score only two of the four goals that were needed for victory.
In the four months that had elapsed since the Blues had triumphed 4-1 in the return fixture, South Park have undergone significant change in their quest to pull away from the relegation zone. They are now a much stronger outfit but the Blues will know that, even so, they should have come away from their Reigate home with at least a point.
Having started positively, the Blues found themselves with a ‘mountain to climb’ when they conceded two goals inside the first fourteen minutes. The first came in the 10th minute when the Blues were caught out by a rehearsed corner routine that allowed an unmarked Great Evans to score from close range. The same player then, four minutes later, cut in from the left onto his right foot and fired an unstoppable shot into the far top corner from 25 yards.
The Blues then set about their (literally) uphill task with purpose and dominated the remaining 30 minutes of the half. They piled pressure on the home goal – mainly from free-kicks and corners but by half-time they only had a single goal reward for their efforts; Elliot Bailey heading home Macauley Joynes’ in-swinging free-kick from the right.
With the advantage of the slope the Blues will have started the second half confident of a positive result but their hopes were severely dented by a second wonder strike, this time coming from another 25-yard drive into the top corner of the net from Andrew Herring.
Seemingly undismayed, the Blues responded well and laid siege to the home goal for the remaining 25 minutes. But, once again, they could only find a second Elliot Bailey strike for their efforts. There was lots of activity in the South Park box but the hosts defended well and prevented the Blues creating any clear-cut chances other than a Theo Costa header in time-added-on.
Team:, Charlie Mann, Mulik Rickman, Macauley Joynes, Charlie Edwards, Jay Lovell, Mark Twumasi (Theo Costa 85’), Ruben Soares-Junior, Jordan Lawal, Elliot Bailey, Brett O’Connor (Dan Cheema 71’), and George Lutaaya.
Subs not used: Joe Clemo and Ahmed Mohammed.
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