RIPLEY VILLAGE 1-3 BATTERSEA IRONSIDES

It was not looking like being the Ironsides day when Gary Gateson's car broke down on the A3. Four of the team had to be rescued on the hard shoulder, which delayed kick off for 40 minutes. In addition, three players did not show up to the game all all, and would have surely faced the wrath of their manager, if it were not for the all round dominating display put on by the players who did turn up. Ironsides pressed for the first quarter of the game, and on 22 minutes, a great through ball inside the full back gave Junior Mitchell a run in on goal, who coolly slotted home into the corner of the net to give Ironsides the lead. Ironsides continued to press having several chances. Ten minutes before half time, Matt Shelton put the Ironsides 2-0 up, which capped an excellent first half. The second half started in the same vain, with Ironsides pressing and making several chances. In the 60th minute, a Steve Stacey free kick was headed in by Junior Mitchell for his second of the game. On 65 minutes, Ripley missed a chance to get back into the game, when a rash challenge by Robbie McMahon gifted them a penalty. A fine save by Ian Peddle kept the scoreline at 3-0, but with 15 minutes to go, Ripley pulled a goal back from a corner to make the game 3-1. Two minutes later Ironsides were down to 10 men when Julian Green was sent off. However, the Ironsides continued to dominate and saw out the remainder of the game comfortably. It was the best all round performance of the season so far, in adverse conditions, with several players individually having their best game for the Ironsides.