Sunday 23 September 2007

Back down to earth this weekend with a 2-2 draw against Valley Valliants. After last weeks amazing 9-1 victory against Griffin, hopes were high of a repeat against Valley, who last week lost 5-2 to Keyworth.

However, they turned out to be a far stiffer opposition and battled all the way. Paul Howe was forced into one change from last week, with Tom Reeves coming in for John McGuigan, who was unavailable.

The home side started bright with Tom Reeves going wide after two minutes and he also had a shot saved two minutes later after a fine long ball from Smith.

This was a very competitive game but the home side just had the edge. They made the breakthrough after twenty three minutes when Tom Reeves flew down the side of the penalty box, put a low cross across the face of the ball towards his brother Sam and the defender deflected the ball into the net to make it 1-0 Paul Birch FC.

A fine start and the side had started in the same vein as last week. Lots of pace and determination. However, the side now seemed to back off slightly and allow Valley back into the game.

Three minutes after the goal, the visitors were level. A corner was sent in from the right and the Valley number 10 put in a cheeky back-heal which went through the defence and the keeper to make it 1-1.

Disappointment then for the reds and the home side knew that they couldnt be complacent. They had to press for that second. The visitors were getting amoungst the PB side and were now causing problems. The PB back four looked solid but they were losing out in midfield and this was proving to be a problem.

Things got worse on thirty seven minutes when Valley scored from a corner, the ball looping over Watts in the PB goal and made it 2-1 Valley Valliants.

The half time whistle went and PB went in 2-1 down.

Manager Howe was happy with his side's performance, apart from the two sloppy goals conceded and he knew that as long as they continued to press and attack, the side would get the opportunities to get back on track.

Again, the strikers started lively with Tom Reeves going close and finally got the goal on sixty one minutes when, after some good pressure, Sam Reeves put in a low corner which looked as if it was not going to cause trouble, and Tom Reeves got a touch and directed it into the back of the net to make it 2-2.

The home side now had the bit between their teeth and were now looking the more likelier side to win. The midfield was now on top and the two striker were causing problems. The reds went close on sixty four minutes when a ball was put across the penalty area and Steve Birch prodded the ball beyond the keeper but onto the bar.

Gary Sparrow was then introduced, making his first appearance for the side this season and he nearly got the winner. He made a good driving run into the box and put a shot past the keeper but it agonisingly hit the post and then spun across the goal line but did not go over.

The game finished 2-2 and Howe was disappointed not to have got all the points. However, they got a point and the side know that they must up their game for the visit of Leabridge.

Man of the Match

James Collins - A solid, captain's performance. He led the side well.

Team:

Watts, Beale, Collins, Byworth, Tarrant, Birch, S Reeves, Cassidy, Selby (Sparrow 76), Smith (T Louch 79), T Reeves

Subs not used: Ezekiel