Foxhole 2 Dobwalls 1

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 2 Dobwalls 1

Saturday 26th March 2011

A goal in each half from Adam Trudgian secured a much-needed victory for the battling Foxes, although they had to endure a nervous final seven minutes plus interminable stoppage time after the impressive Hawes had picked himself up from being tripped by Ralph to smash his penalty to Holland's left. Until then, Foxhole had appeared comfortable against visitors who did not possess the same attacking threat as in the earlier fixture at Lantoom Park, with Ralph providing a steadying influence at the heart of the midfield quintet, and it was from his centre following Bird's quickly taken free-kick that Trudgian opened the scoring with a volley at the near post inside four minutes.

Trudgian almost immediately doubled the lead from another Ralph cross but his header flashed wide, but, despite some promising moves, this was to prove the home team's last raid on Hardie's goal until Trudgian again fired wide Kempthorne's astute pass ten minutes before the break. Dobwalls looked lively on occasions, particularly down their right, full-back Tapper cleverly setting up Notman for their best opportunity, his shot being cleared from the line by Rowe, soon followed by Thackery's thumping header from Hawes' outswinging corner being tipped over by Holland, who then had to react smartly to deny another Thackery effort after a nod down by a worryingly unmarked Young as the visitors ended the half marginally on top, much to the frustration of Spaul, who was booked for dissent, joining May, earlier cautioned for a foul on Notman.

Bird ought to have scored within moments of the restart, scuffing his attempt at the near post, while Rowe might similarly have done better with a header from Adam Holland's deep free-kick on fifty-minutes, but, two minutes later, Trudgian notched his second in unconventional fashion, his face connecting with Bird's corner to find the roof of the net with Dobwalls appealing unconvincingly for hands. The burly Parr was pushed up front to join the largely anonymous Lawrence and Notman, but the change in tactics merely signalled a lengthy passage of particularly scrappy play with goalmouth excitement at a premium, but the lifeline offered from the spot by Hawes at least made the game's closing stages sufficiently interesting for the final whistle to be met with some relief by the depressingly small number of Goverseth faithful. Both Gascoigne (dissent) and Hawes (foul on Spaul) also received yellow cards as the visitors strove for an undeserved late equaliser, but the Foxes' rearguard held firm with minimal alarm, and Spaul should have clinched the points at the death when running unchallenged from halfway with James in support, only to see his initial shot saved by Hardie's legs, and the rebound poked tamely wide with the goal gaping.

Foxhole (3-5-2): Ryan Holland; Adam Holland, Matt May, Mark Rowe; Michael Kempthorne (sub. Pete May), CJ Bird (sub. Glyn James), Ben Spaul, Bradley Ralph, Ryan Hayhurst; Tom Rescorl, Adam Trudgian.

Dobwalls (4-4-2): Ben Hardie; Steve Tapper (sub. Tom King), Phil Bromhead, Matt Thackery, Lewis Young; Bradley Richardson, Matt Hawes, Andy Frost (sub. Ben Gascoigne), Darren Parr; Josh Notman, Dan Lawrence.

Referee: Mr Kevin Knowles (Mabe Burnthouse).