Foxhole 4 St Stephen 1

[Darin Morse]

Foxhole 4 St Stephen 1

Thursday 11th August 2011

St Stephen, who included a smattering of reserves in their huge squad and with the Willmott brothers bizarrely sharing glove duties, can feel hard done by to lose by such a margin, particularly after an impressive first-half display. However, Richard Griffin's extra pace and power which brought him all four home goals proved decisive, again demonstrating how crucial he is to the Foxes' hopes.

The marine ought to have scored inside eight minutes only to delay his shot, but friendly defending from the visitors which epitomised their evening allowed Upton a second chance, but the effort flashed wide. However, on fourteen, the same duo combined for Griffin to round the keeper and roll the ball into an empty net. A minute later, Griffin turned cleverly in a packed area to fire across the elder Willmott and into the net, but, rather than consolidating their lead, the Foxes' lack of concentration permitted the visitors' strikers with opportunities that will surely be punished by Peninsula players. As it was Ryan Holland was not unduly tested even when Fieldhouse's errors let in first Rickard, who was destined also to nod wide Smith's flighted free-kick, and then Gamble, although the returning keeper could merely watch as Jon Newnes' drive from Stephen's pass thumped to safety off the outside of the upright. Griffin somehow failed to complete his hat-trick moments before half-time, bundling the ball wide from close range at the far post from Rundle's inviting centre.

Having made several changes at the break, it was perhaps inevitable that Saints would take a while to adjust, and Foxhole took full advantage. Adam Holland really should have found the net with a clear header from an inswinging corner by Upton, whose first-time volley from Camps' cross flew just over before Griffin outmuscled Joe Newnes on fify-two and fired in a fierce drive which Jordan Willmott beat away but who had no answer to the rebound. Four minutes later, Griffin notched his fourth with a great finish after latching on to Kenny's searching ball. Throughout his long Foxhole career, Griffin has never scored six, or even five, goals in one game, but he will unquestionably never have a better occasion than today, his murderous pace again leaving Newnes stranded only to shoot wastefully wide at the front post, and then incredibly blazing over the bar from virtually underneath it after Upton's initial attempt had been parried.

With twenty-four minutes remaining, Gamble's corner was met by Stephen to thunder a free header against the woodwork, Sincock reacting first to scramble home a deserved consolation. While the match largely petered out in terms of penalty area threat, both teams did at least attempt to hone their short-passing skills to pleasing effect, although it remains to be seen whether they are the sort of tactics doomed to be ruthlessly exposed once there are points at stake. The assiduous Upton was denied a well-earned goal when his adroit chip dipped just too late, and Sincock squandered the opportunity of his second by taking an age to pull the trigger, but the latter stages will be remembered mainly for some full-blooded challenges befitting a local derby.

Foxhole (4-4-2): Ryan Holland; Joe Stone, Daniel Allen, Adam Fieldhouse, Adam Holland; Lee Hazeldine, Sam Kenny, Aydan Rundle, Ben Spaul; Richard Griffin, Duane Upton.

Subs: David Grose, Gary Camps, Bradley Ralph.

St Stephen (4-4-2): Kyle Willmott; Sam Medlin, Jamie Smith, Andrew Sincock, Matthew Jones; Aiden Lemasurier, Adam Gamble, Ryan Stephen, Jon Newnes; James Allen, Rodney Rickard.

Subs: Ciaran Igoe, Joe Newnes, Jordan Willmott, Scott Hill, Dean Burnett, Josh Mingo.

Referee: Mr Jon Harris (Nanpean).