The hottest day of the year was the setting for the 2nd home game for the reserves. After the first victory of the season last week building on the result was key especially after dropping points at home in the first week.
Richard Allen unavailable and Steve Scott-Lee called up to the first team were replaced by the returning Sam Okine, Richard Thompson and Miles Morgan. Stefan Hollingsworth and Lewis Hills were promoted from the bench with Lewis slotting in at right back and Stefan moving up front with Chafik Dahmani switching to left midfield with the team setting up as 442. The game started brightly for both teams but the game could have taken a different turn of events when in the first couple of minutes when the Abbey Rangers forward was put through and Lewis mistimed he tackle and appeared to catch the forward with everybody but the referee thinking the challenge was late and not giving a penalty After the initial couple of minute the Ironsides started to show their strength and dominated possession and created a number of chances without really testing the keeper.
A solid start from the Ironsides against a very well organised team, with a slow back four to play against the youthful attack options started to tell the difference, Stefan and Chafik provided some good work down the left with Stefan holding the ball well and feeding Chafik who ran onto the ball in the box and with a slight deflect powered the ball home for the first goal. The second goal came for the opposition. After a period of possession for Rangers came shortly a quick succession of corners and their well organised set pieces told. The Rangers player got a better jump than his marker Ernie Ako and a powerful header was initially blocked on the line by Chafik but the ball bounced back up and of Luke’s hand into the goal. TA quick response was required and that was exactly what the team did. Again good work down the left saw Chafik get into a good wide position was a an early cross was expected but after a bit of dithering and holding off the tackle Chafik finally putting the ball onto his right foot put a delightful cross into the box which was met by Neil Scott who calmly headed the ball into the bottom right corner. The final goal came just before half time another long throw from Martin Taylor was headed back towards goal off the back of Julian’s head where it nicely slotted in the goal. The second half was composed but unspectacular and neither team could add to the score sheet. Another 3 points were the reserves for the season with a big game against Horsley coming up next week.
