Gates's perfect hat-trick not quite enough
Bournemouth League Division 1
Redlynch and Woodfalls 4 Sway Reserves 3
29th November 2015
Playing their first game in a month, the Reserves struggled to find their usual passing game on a heavy pitch with high winds at Woodfalls. Despite early pressure, the home side created few chances and Barrowdale in the Sway goal was able to deal comfortably with their efforts.
As the half wore on Sway started to look more dangerous in attack with Stride and the lively Chillcott seeing more of the ball. Chillcott had two good opportunities: first firing over after a Stride knock down and then running clear on to a through ball from Ritchie, forcing a good save from the home keeper.
Just as Sway looked to be taking control of the game they fell behind to a classic counter-attack on the half hour. Following good play on the left, Ritchie had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and one long ball cleared Sway's high defensive line and sent the forward clear to fire Redlynch into the lead.
Five minutes later Redlynch doubled their lead when Sway switched off after conceding another soft free-kick and they reacted quickly to split the defence with one pass and fired home.
Sway then had their best period of the half with Mahy having a shot cleared off the line following a corner that was only half cleared. The Reds found a way back when Stride won the ball and set up Gates whose right foot shot from 20 yards was fumbled into the net by the keeper.
Sway came out more determined after the break and immediately looked a better team. Their early pressure paid off when they equalised on 55 minutes as Mahy sent Stride clear on the right and his dangerous cross was headed home by Gates from six yards out.
It was now all one way traffic and the Redlynch goal was under constant attack with Gates and Stride threatening. Under 18 player Langdown was having a brilliant game having been pushed into midfield following a reorganisation after Chillcott had to come off with injury. The Redlynch keeper then made amends for his earlier error saving superbly after Mahy had cut inside from the right to fire in a low shot.
But Redlynch regained their lead, against the run of play, when the ball ricocheted around in the Sway box, ending up in the corner of the goal after a defensive clearance rebounded off an unsuspecting forward.
It then got worse for Sway on 80 minutes when substitute Russell stopped a dangerous run down the right with a foul inside the box and the forward duly got up to fire the penalty low into the net.
Just as it looked as if the game was over Sway kept it alive by pulling a goal back. Again Stride and Mahy were the creators with good link up play wide on the right and again the beneficiary was Gates who was set up to fire in with his left foot to complete his perfect hat-trick.
With just 5 minutes remaining Sway pushed forward for the equaliser and Gates nearly added to his goal tally when put clear but he was unable to keep his shot on target.
Sway Reserves: J Barrowdale, S Quinn, S Hillyer, D Larcombe, J Langdown, A Gates, T Ritchie, P Cole, P Mahy, B Stride, J Chillcott. Subs: L Miller, A Russell.
Bournemouth League Division 1
Redlynch and Woodfalls 4 Sway Reserves 3
29th November 2015
Playing their first game in a month, the Reserves struggled to find their usual passing game on a heavy pitch with high winds at Woodfalls. Despite early pressure, the home side created few chances and Barrowdale in the Sway goal was able to deal comfortably with their efforts.
As the half wore on Sway started to look more dangerous in attack with Stride and the lively Chillcott seeing more of the ball. Chillcott had two good opportunities: first firing over after a Stride knock down and then running clear on to a through ball from Ritchie, forcing a good save from the home keeper.
Just as Sway looked to be taking control of the game they fell behind to a classic counter-attack on the half hour. Following good play on the left, Ritchie had a shot blocked on the edge of the box and one long ball cleared Sway's high defensive line and sent the forward clear to fire Redlynch into the lead.
Five minutes later Redlynch doubled their lead when Sway switched off after conceding another soft free-kick and they reacted quickly to split the defence with one pass and fired home.
Sway then had their best period of the half with Mahy having a shot cleared off the line following a corner that was only half cleared. The Reds found a way back when Stride won the ball and set up Gates whose right foot shot from 20 yards was fumbled into the net by the keeper.
Sway came out more determined after the break and immediately looked a better team. Their early pressure paid off when they equalised on 55 minutes as Mahy sent Stride clear on the right and his dangerous cross was headed home by Gates from six yards out.
It was now all one way traffic and the Redlynch goal was under constant attack with Gates and Stride threatening. Under 18 player Langdown was having a brilliant game having been pushed into midfield following a reorganisation after Chillcott had to come off with injury. The Redlynch keeper then made amends for his earlier error saving superbly after Mahy had cut inside from the right to fire in a low shot.
But Redlynch regained their lead, against the run of play, when the ball ricocheted around in the Sway box, ending up in the corner of the goal after a defensive clearance rebounded off an unsuspecting forward.
It then got worse for Sway on 80 minutes when substitute Russell stopped a dangerous run down the right with a foul inside the box and the forward duly got up to fire the penalty low into the net.
Just as it looked as if the game was over Sway kept it alive by pulling a goal back. Again Stride and Mahy were the creators with good link up play wide on the right and again the beneficiary was Gates who was set up to fire in with his left foot to complete his perfect hat-trick.
With just 5 minutes remaining Sway pushed forward for the equaliser and Gates nearly added to his goal tally when put clear but he was unable to keep his shot on target.
Sway Reserves: J Barrowdale, S Quinn, S Hillyer, D Larcombe, J Langdown, A Gates, T Ritchie, P Cole, P Mahy, B Stride, J Chillcott. Subs: L Miller, A Russell.