A Phil Page strike two minutes into added time gave the first team a hard fought, and much needed 3-2 win over Spelthorne Sports, in an entertaining game, writes Gary Brigden
Spelthorne opened the game brightly, but despite a reasonable amount of possession in the opening five minutes, they did not cause too many problems, although Sam Blowers was required to win his fair share of headers, and then make a timely interception as the impressive Lee Staples looked to get away.
With almost their first attack the first team took the lead. Francois Gabbidon made his customary surge down the right, hit the byeline, drew the keeper and squared to Matt Robinson who fired home his first goal for the club.
Two minutes later and neat play by Robinson saw him find Page, but his cross was just too high for Gabbidon. Spelthorne went close on 11 minutes when a decent ball into the area by Billy Roach was half cleared by Blowers to Jake Hicks, but his effort went wide of the right hand post. A minute later and Joseph Hughes fired wide after good work by Olu Akinsaya.
Having soaked up a bit of Spelthorne pressure, it was SCR who had the next real chance, with Robinson latching onto a Smith pass, and bringing a good save out of Dane Buss, away to his left. Page went into the book for handball on 21 minutes, as he attempted to block a quick throw by the Spelthorne keeper, and a minute later after good build up play involving Robinson, Hamilton Antonio and Aaron Bogle, Page almost found Gabbidon with another dangerous cross.
Ahmed Farah almost set Staples away on 25 minutes, but Adams covered the ground well to clear. On the half hour, Farah again did very well to set up Simo Mbonkwi but his drive was well held by Freeman, and a minute later Farah fired wide left, after some lovely Spelthorne play in the middle of the park.
Robinson headed a Bogle cross wide of the right hand post on 33 minutes as the game swung from end to end. Staples, Hughes and Mbonkwi then combined with Hughes's snapshot being comfortable for Freeman. On 41 minutes a great Fernandez cross almost found Page, but Spelthorne's Qaseem Sotoniwa did really well to clear, and as they broke quickly Adams almost let Akinsaya in, but SCR were able to scramble the ball clear.
Staples went into the book for a poor challenge on Bogle, and in the last action of the half Page almost got beyond Ashley Quashie, but the Spelthorne lad defended the situation superbly.
Half time came with SCR 1-0 to the good.
Gabbidon saw an early second half cross well claimed by Buss, and on three minutes, Hughes found Quashie, but his cross deflected off Bogle for an early Spelthorne corner, which was well defended by Page. A minute later and a tussle on the right between Akinsaya and Fernandez ended with the Spelthorne man going into the book.
Staples got the wrong side of Adams five minutes into the half, but his low strike was well blocked by Blowers and at the other end a Gabbidon poked effort went wide of the left hand post.
Page was well defended by Sotoniwa on seven minutes, but in his hurry to clear Buss threw the ball against his full back, with it rebounding to Gabbidon, who sure his effort blocked by Franky Law. Buss then denied Gabbidon with a great block as SCR looked to find that two goal cushion. From the corner, Fernandez delivery caused chaos in the Spelthorne defence but Adams somehow turned his effort over the bar from close range.
Hughes almost got away on 55 minutes after Bogle and Monan had been caught overplaying, and a minute later a good block by Blowers stopped Akinsaya from getting in on goal.
Scores were level on 58 minutes, when a ball from the Roach found Staples and he crashed the ball home from distance for 1-1, and two minutes later a mazy Staples run saw him bought down by Fernandez on the edge of the area but the free kick only found the SCR wall and went behind for a corner. From the corner Mbonkwi crashed the ball against the bar from close range and from the follow up it was body on the line by Blowers who blocked another goalbound effort.
Just over the hour mark and SCR retook the lead. Monan found Gabbidon who in turn released Page, he raced goalwards and from a tight angle crashed the ball beyond Buss for 2-1. Monan should have at least gone into the book on 65 minutes for a poor challenge on Farah, before Spelthorne levelled things again on 68 minutes. A sweeping move down the right saw Akinsaya square to Hughes who calmly fired beyond Freeman for 2-2.
Quashie fired an effort goalwards on 78 minutes which was half blocked by the SCR backline before being hooked clear by Monan, and a minute later Mbonkwi got beyond Fernandez but his cross was turned behind for a corner. Adams and Blowers both made timely clearances as Spelthorne continued to push for a winner. With eight minutes remaining Freeman found his way into the book.
On 83 minutes a dangerous ball in by Fernandez was deflected wide of his own goal by Law, and from the corner Blowers header was comfortable for Buss. Freeman pulled off a tremendous save low to his left from a curling Quashie free kick on 87 minutes, and from the corner Hicks crashed an effort against the bar.
Salmon made his first change with five minutes remaining replacing the tiring Gabbidon with Botwe. Smith was denied by a superb challenge by Farah in the area, having surged passed several players, and Fernandez hit an effort straight at 1Buss.
Farah bought a good save out of Freeman low to his left in injury, before SCR snatched all three points at the death. A barnstorming run by Antonio on the right was ended by a great challenge by Quashie. From the throw in by Adams Spelthorne could only half clear to Page, who returned the ball to Adams. This time, his low cross found Page who crashed the ball home for all three points.
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