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Jordon's second half goal was just not enough as Woodhurst lose their first points this season. |
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Woodhurst |
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Cambourne Wednesday |
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Sheppard, Jordon |
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Parmiters Sport Ground |
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10.30pm, Sunday 31st October 04 |
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Essex Sunday Corinthian League Division One |
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Referee: Dave O'Donnell |
After an awesome performance seven days earlier, Woodhurst were brought down to earth with their first defeat of the season and their first loss on home soil since April 2003.
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A poor first half display as the 'Hurst gifted their visitors possession in a number of key areas made the second period an uphill battle - but one that this resilient side almost came out of.
Roy Lawley was given a massive selection head-ache as every member of his big squad was present and available for selection. He opted for the same 11 that started so brightly last week, meaning that there was once again no place for Steve Hughes, Kofi Owusu, Simon Probert, Jason Fullerton and Jamie Bradbury - a powerful five-a-side team if ever there was one.
But this time they weren't so sharp and within 10 minutes found themselves a goal down. Tom Gray's hasty throw out left Cambourne forwards still in the danger zone and when the Hurst move evaporated, the ball broke kindly to the visitors full-back who cracked a sweet strike from 12 yards past Gray.
Woodhurst were soon level though and the early jitters looked to be behind them. When Jan Souleyman was set free down the left his shot was parried into the path of Andrew Sheppard who doesn't (usually) miss from two yards out, and it looked like the home side had figured out a way past the Wednesday defence. But where they failed in keeping the ball for the opener, a similar piece of sloppy passing let in Cambourne for number two as the ball squirmed under the dive of Tom Gray.
Opportunities to level matters came for Woodhurst but Jordon's sitter and Tony Taylor's acrobatic over head kick never threatened. Lawley needed a special team-talk to inspire his men.
And it was a much better second-half as the team rallied and battled, but a penalty awarded in the opening minutes of the half gave Cambourne a chance to extend their lead, which they duly accepted.
Nigel Jordon finally found his scoring boots with 15 minutes left when he beat the offide trap to slide home and it set up a nailbiting finale which saw Paul McShea head over from four yards, Tony Taylor reeling from thunderous volley which forced the best out of the keeper and a goal-mouth scramble which could have been forced home on at least two occasions.
In the end, the equaliser would just not arrive and Woodhurst's 100% record was gone. A draw would have probably been a fair result - but when teams like Cambourne come to town, you have to work hard for your slice of luck and the lack of sharpness from the start cost Woodhurst the points.
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Team
Tom Gray
Jenssen Clifford
Tony Taylor
Paul McShea
Alex Alexander
Nick Bashford
Patrick Ladbury
Andrew Sheppard
Nigel Jordon
Jimmy Woodham
Jan Souleyman
Subs:
Simon Probert
Steve Hughes
Jason Fullerton
Jamie Bradbury
Kofi Owusu
Roy Lawley
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Tom Gray
