Match Report
Match Report - 03 Dec 2011, Old Modernians Football Club 3rds beat Old Batelians Reserves
Old Balelians……..3
I. Hall
P. Bryant
P. Bryant (pen)
Old Mods……….…5
A. Binns
T. Stenger
A. Binns
A. Binns
T. Hill
Mods kept up their 100% record with a 3-5 win but were made to work for their points against a Batelians side that would not go down without a fight. Adam Binns fired home a hat-trick, with midfielders Tommy Stenger and player of the month Tim Hill adding a goal a piece as Mods scored two late goals to reach an unblemished 30 points from the opening 10 games.
It was day when the wind rolled in and the rain came at you sideways, the playing surface was okay at first but could not hold up against the unrelenting conditions and worsened throughout the game. For the second time in succession Mods went behind following the opening exchanges. The home sides goal keeper had a massive kick and it caught out everyone in a Mods shirt, as we now all know you can’t be offside from a goal kick. The ball was launched over everyone and found their striker who was obviously clued up to what was happening. He then turned and picked out a team mate on the edge of the box and he side footed a curling shot into the top corner.
Mods reacted well and began to control the game, they kept getting the ball out wide with Mikel Keeney and Stu Astel on the flanks getting considerable joy against the Batelians full backs, which allowed Ryan Kerr and the adventurous Andy Shirley to see a lot of the ball. The equaliser came courtesy of in form striker Adam Binns who was quickest to react and looped the ball over the onrushing keeper and into the back of the net. It was not long after that Mods were ahead in the game with a wonderful piece of flowing football. Tommy Stenger picked up the ball in the middle of the park, spread the ball wide to Ryan Kerr, who’s deep cross found its way to Stu Astel at the back stick, he controlled and fed it across the 6 yard box where Tommy Stenger took a touch to control and then fired home a left footed thunderbolt from all of 6 yards.
Now in the lead, thoughts of the previous weeks 7-1 victory must have sprung to mind, but it wasn’t long before Batelians were all square again when the hosts repeated the trick, another long thump upfield from the keeper and a cocktail of sun and wind proved a combination too difficult to overcome for the Mods defence and ever alert striker got to the ball before Damein Dawtry and lobbed the stopper, the ball just winning the race with Dan Bradford to the goal line and the scores were level again, 2-2, and it stayed that way till half time.
In the second Mods began to fully assert themselves and without the assistance of the wind Batelians main threat of goal kicks was no longer an issue. However they did nearly take the lead and a superb double save from Dawtry between the sticks ensured the scores remained level. Mikel Keeney and Stu Astel were withdrawn and replaced with James Douglas and Joe Frazier, and the two subs combined when James Douglas was put through from Joe Frazier’s raking cross field ball, only for the forward to fire wide. Mods do create a lot of chances and with 10 minutes to go Adam Binns popped up to grab his second following a delightful in-swinging free kick from Dan Bradford. The striker made no mistake, volleying home from close range after managing to lose his marker.
With 10 minutes to go the Mods must have thought they had bagged another 3 points but Batelians had other ideas, a harsh penalty was awarded following an alleged hand ball by Ryan Kerr, the ball ricocheted up and hit the full back on the elbow and it looked to be outside the area, however the referee pointed to the spot and the Batelain striker made no mistake from 12 yards.
The introduction of Sammy Lunt for Ryan Kerr with less than 10 minutes remaining seemed to be an innocuous one but within seconds of his arrival on the pitch the Mods were back in the lead. Adam Binns completing his hat-trick with a cool one-on-one finish following a exquisite ball by Jodie Lazenby to put him in the clear. And the game was put to bed when Tim Hill popped up with his customary goal, finding the smallest gap between keeper and post to give the visitors a two goal lead. It was Mods who finished the game stronger and nearly added to their lead in the dying embers of the game, Ashton Rowe was denied after getting on the end of a Sammy Lunt corner.
It was a game that Mods felt they deserved to win and the two goal margin was fully justified. Andy Hick will be pleased with the character shown by is troops but will know an improvement is required for next week when he takes his team to Grangefield.
Old Batelians Reserves 3 - 5 Old Modernians Football Club 3rds