A GAME OF TWO HALVES

FC Hollybush 3 - 2 Freeland A

Freeland A and Hollybush proved football was a game of two halves after putting in two contrasting performances in each forty-five minutes at Burwell Meadow on Saturday. Freeland, who would have gone top had they won, threw away a two goal lead as they fell to only their second defeat of the season.

Freeland dominated the early exchanges, with Howe, back from injury, looking lively alongside Footitt in attack. The away side were first to every ball, with Tomas winning the majority of the midfield battle with ease, and created a host of chances in the opening twenty minutes. Hardy had a left footed strike trickle wide, and then hit the bar with a header after a superb Bower cross and Footitt had an effort well saved.

" It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock"

It took a moment of magic to break the deadlock though, and Dave Titcombe provided it, hammering a free kick from twenty-five yards into the top corner of the Hollybush goal. Freeland soon doubled there lead, Footitt went through on goal and had his shot well saved, but he battled to keep the ball in play and fired the ball across goal for Howe to slide in and ram the ball home.

With Panting looking assured at the heart of the Freeland defence the visitors rarely looked troubled. But five minutes before half time Freeland turned off, and began to gift the ball to Hollybush, and on the stroke of half time they capitalized. Freeland had three great chances to clear the ball, but failed to do so, and the ball eventually found its way through to a Hollybush striker who fired the ball past Mobey in the Freeland goal.

Freeland needed to come out fighting in the second half, but a rejuvenated Hollybush scored a wonder goal of their own, the impressive Eddie Brookes struck a glorious equalizer from thirty yards and Freeland never recovered. The Bush harried Freeland, and they started to make more and more mistakes, and it was not long before the home side took a deserved lead. Again, it was a never great finish from a free kick.

" It did not look the same team which had staged a remarkable comeback against Hollybush a couple of months previous "

The game became very scrappy, with Freeland rarely threatening an equaliser as their heads dropped. It did not look the same team which had staged a remarkable comeback against Hollybush a couple of months previous, and a team that had battled to victories against Chippy and Marlborough.

Freelands only real chance of the half fell to substitute Evans, but he fired wide after being put through on goal by Hardy. It was a disappointing loss, and Freeland will have to improve if they are to not waste their good work in the first half of the season. This is not to take anything away from Hollybush, whos league position will surely improve, and in Eddie Brookes they have one of the best players in the division.

Their was some good news for Freeland though, with Holden making his first appearance since breaking his ankle, and the imminent comebacks of Mills and Collier getting closer. Freeland will need all three of these if they are to battle their way back to winning ways.