Match Report
Earl Marshall JFC 3; Junior Fox 1
Sheffield & District Junior Sunday League – Division D
Hinde House School Ground
Earl Marshall came from behind, scoring three in the second half, to finish eventual winners against a well organised Junior Fox side who were clearly a much stronger team than their position in the table suggested.
Earl Marshall made a bright start but were soon pegged back by the visitors. Despite having gone 8 weeks without a game due to winter postponements, Junior Fox played with real determination and with the wind and good traveling support behind them they were soon threatening the Earl Marshall goal.
In the 7th minute they looked to have found the net but, with Dominic MH beaten, Calum was on hand to make a crucial goal line clearance. After the wake up call Earl Marshall did their best to assert themselves and two minutes later Aaron came close but his low drive missed the target. A period of sustained pressure then saw Fox’s win three corners in as many minutes. The third was a well taken inswinger that deflected off a defender and ended up in the back of the net giving the visitors a not unexpected lead.
The visitors then continued to press their advantage with Earl Marshall having to work hard to avoid conceding a second goal, with Lahkem and Matthew making important challenges. The best chance of an equaliser came in the 18th minute when Elijah received the ball well inside the Earl Marshall half. He sent a superb through ball to Aaron. Aaron controlled well, outran the defenders, but was unable to find the net (HT: 0-1).
Earl Marshall were back on level terms a minute after the restart when Seymour’s shot from the right side of the penalty box caused confusion between Fox’s keeper and a defender and found its way into the net. The equaliser brought confidence to the team and they pushed forward looking to press their advantage. Both Seymour and Jordan were looking strong and determined in midfield winning the fifty-fifty balls but Junior Fox were organised at the back and hard to break down.
Then in the 14th minute a powerful long range clearance from Dominic J was headed by a defender over the keeper into the net and Earl Marshall had what was a deserved lead (2-1). Two minutes later the ball was in the net again, with Joe tapping in Aaron’s parried shot, but the goal was ruled offside. Following his disappointment it was Joe who claimed Earl Marshall’s third goal in the 22nd minute when Jordan’s well aimed corner was flicked on by Bradley before being slotted home by Joe at the far post.
Despite threatening in the first half the visitors struggled to create any real chances in the second, once again Lahkem dealt effectively with the aerial threat and Ishaque made some important challenges when coming on in the right back position.
In their last home game, against Whiston Wildcats, Earl Marshall had struggled to get back into the game after conceding an early goal and suffered an unexpected home defeat. Against Junior Fox’s despite a similar awkward start and early setback the players were able to turn the game around with a real sense of belief and a strong second half performance.
Coaches’ Man of the Match: Lahkem Bonney
Mick A