Taverners 4 vs 2 Sharpness

It was another disappointing away trip for Sharpness on Saturday with a short trip to Taverners. The game started with Sharpness on top and Matt Gardner was giving the left back a torrid time and within 15 minutes he broke free only to be tumbled over by the Taverners centre back only for the referee to wave play on when it seemed to be a stonewall penalty. This kicked Taverners into life and following a long ball from the back the Sharpness defence were caught napping by the lively Taverners forward who broke free to poke the ball past Neal in the Sharpness goal. Taverners were then on top for a spell and following a defensive mistake by Sharpness the same forward made it 2 nil. Sharpness never gave up and piled on the pressure and it eventually paid off with Matt Gardner latching onto a fumbled ball by the keeper to make it 2-1 at half time.

The second half started brightly with Sharpness immediately putting the Taverners defence under pressure but unfortunately from yet another long ball from Taverners the Sharpness defence got outmuscled by the same forward who grabbed his third making it 3-1 within a minute of the re start. Again Sharpness pushed for another goal and it was Matt Gardner who delivered with an excellent individual effort giving the keeper no chance.

Sharpness pushed for the equaliser only for the Taverners substitute to get free from a corner to make it 4-2. The last 10 minutes was all Sharpness who never gave up and the day was summed up when Gardner was felled in the box and got up to take his hat trick spot kick only to put it wide. Sharpness manager Phil Orsborn was impressed with the commitment but we must improve defensively and he will be looking at options for this weekend’s visit of Brockworth at Hamfields 3pm kick off.