Ramble Round the Everards Divisions
Week ending 14th December by Mason Norton
15/12/24
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Leaders Sileby Town make it 4 wins on the spin but only 2 games manage to get under way.
Only 2 games managed to get under way and leaders Sileby Town made it 4 wins on the spin with a 1-0 defeat of Earl Shilton Albion, to open up a 9 point gap to their nearest challengers, champions Anstey Town, who have 3 games in hand. Shilton have slipped in recent weeks with a reward of just 1 point from their last 5 starts but remain a force in the top 6.
Sileby manager Andy Taylor was well aware of their pedigree `They fought and battled throughout, but we had the better changes. When we did break through we found their keeper in good form. The pitch played well and allowed us to knock the ball around and play our normal passing game. This allowed us to develop a good move that resulted in Chris Baker sweeping the ball into the bottom corner from the edge of the box, 10 minutes into the 2nd half. With 10 minutes to go Shilton were reduced to 10 men, but instead of folding they upped their game, and whilst not creating any chances defended well for the final minutes.?
Hathern played host to FC Braunstone Victoria and went behind after 20 minutes when Darren Jepson beat the offside trap to put the Vics 1 up. Rich Wilson equalised on the half hour so that the teams turned round level at half time. An early strike from Nick Harvey settled Hathern for the 2nd half as they forced the Braunstone keeper, Jack Barnes, into 4 excellent saves in a period of 10 minutes sustained pressure before Jason Lee missed a penalty, Leon Woodford had been brought down. Braunstone put Hathern under the cosh, but with 10 minutes left Matt Hallam seized on a defensive error to dribble round Barnes and gave Hathern a 2 goal advantage, which was short lived. Hathern gave away a silly free kick from which Lee Johnson scored with a looping header and made the score 3-2 to set up a tense final 5 minutes which was broken when Hallam was aware of Barnes being well off his line, as Braunstone went looking for a point, and lobbed him from the half way line to give Hathern a 4-2 victory, their 3rd win on the spin.
Report supplied by Dave Lumley