Closely fought at top of division

Published on 29th November 2007 in Sport

Division One

George Renegades 1, NUR 2

A crisp November morning at West Park saw the George once again entertain NUR.

Morale was high in the George camp after the new management led the team to a deserved victory the week before.

The game was tight, with both teams competing for every ball and having chances. NUR were first to break the deadlock after a loose clearance in defence fell to the feet of the striker who curled into the far bottom corner from the edge of the area. After the goal the Renegades made a reshuffle in defence with Jackson moving up front from centre back. The George defence looked shaky after this change and NUR could have added to their score, but a combination of poor finishing and good keeping from Hewson prevented this and the half ended 1-0.

The Renegades started the second half how they started the first and looked much more solid at the back and were much more competitive all over the park. The NUR grabbed a second on the counter attack after a George corner was cleared. George heads would usually go down but inspirational words from the touchline led to a quick reply when a Rob Butler cross come shot looped into the top corner.

The Renegades had the balance of the play after the goal and dangerous Dave O'Connell had the ball in the back of the net, only for a distinctly average referee to pull play back for an altercation between two opposing players.

The George changed their formation to three up front for the last quarter of an hour of the game, but the elusive equaliser didn't come.

All in all a draw would have been a fair result in a very competitive game that could have gone either way. The George Man of the Match went to Rob Butler.

Division Two

Bay Horse 4, Kings Arms 5

Kings Arms made the long journey to Bentley on Sunday morning, and were rewarded with an excellent attacking performance and a 5-4 victory.

Each time the visitors attacked they looked dangerous and goals from Steve Whur and Andy Branton (2) were reward for some decent play in the first half.

However, recent defensive problems were repeated and Bay Horse scored twice to peg Kings Arms back; the Newport team went in at the break only 3-2 up.

It was a similar story in the second half as a penalty for Bay Horse made the scores level at 3-3.

A mazy run and shot from Karl Horsefield saw the visitors take the lead once again, but they let the hosts back into it and they equalised to make it four each.

However, the Kings Arms attackers were causing the home defence so many problems and it seemed only a matter of time before a winner would be scored. Paul Tough was the man on the end of a flowing move and he sealed the win with only minutes left on the clock.

A good performance and deserved victory for Kings Arms, whose Man of the Match was Andy Branton.

Cowick Cavaliers 1, Real United 2

An under-strength Real team travelled to Cowick and had to work hard against a spirited home team who played better than their league position suggests. Real seemed to play like strangers, passes often going astray and sluggish in defence.

The first goal went the way of the visitors when Ash Andrew rode three or four challenges on his way into the box before calmly slotting home.

The second half carried on much as the first, with Cowick equalising after beating the visitors' offside trap. The game flowed from end to end with neither team controlling the game.

Real had their young keeper Nathan Munday to thank for pulling off three tremendous saves which earned him the Man of the Match award.

The visitors won the game with a twenty-yard curling shot from Nicky Heywood which found the far top corner.

Real will hope to find their rhythm next time out whilst Cowick can take heart from a decent display on which if continued will surely bring results.