Losing run comes to an end

It’s unusual for a game to be goalless but for the second meeting this season the two teams were unable to find the net in what was an entertaining match that had the kick off delayed by thirty minutes to allowed pitch renovation work to be completed following the previous Thursday’s rain.

On a soft pitch that improved during the match through the sun and wind, the visitors kicked off in what was to be a cagey first half with very few clear cut goal scoring opportunities due to good play by both defences.

The tenth minute saw Noah Coates head a free kick over Ballers’ cross bar to be followed three minutes later by debutant Woodley keeper Jack Mancey blocking Mouman Sahnoun’s close range shot following a pass from Youssef Bouimane.

A driving run from by Mackenzie Creech through the middle of the pitch saw the midfielder pass right to the returning from injury Manny Adu-Essah for the winger to see his shot hit the side netting of the visitors’ net. This was followed shortly afterwards by Sahnoun’s overhead kick going wide of Mancey’s right hand post.

The second half, aided with the wind at their backs, saw Rising Ballers start positively only to see two shots go wide in the opening five minutes. This was followed six minutes later when Ben Lambourne put a low free kick into the Baller’s penalty area which was scrambled clear for a throw in.

Adu-Essah made a good run and cut in from the right wing only to drag a shot wide of the far post while Mo Davies half chance in the seventy fourth minute was cleared without troubling the visiting goalkeeper Damian Niemczycki.

Despite thirteen minutes stoppage time goalscoring chances remained few. Ballers twice went wide while Kasper Hok’s header from a Lambourne free kick went straight to Niemczycki to leave the teams sharing the match points and for Woodley bringing a end to a run of five defeats.

Mansey, Maadini, Jeczalik (Nwokobia), Creech, Hok, Coates, Adu-Esah, Lambourne, Brown (Shohi) Brandao, Davies Subs not used: Shehu, Burgess and Thappa