LONGFORD TIME COMING

Slade Farm Reserves 2 - 3 Freeland Reserves

Freeland Reserves showed their Jekyll and Hyde character in a last gasp win over Slade Farm. Freelands match preparations were thrown into chaos when a slight mix up over the ground location led to them having a lovely tour of Bicester, a scenic route that hardman Darren Paton will never forget.

Having the likes of Trigg, Big Time, and Harriott in their team Freeland were confident of extending their lead at the top of the table. They started brightly and quickly stamped their authority on the game, with midfield maestro Trigg being at the heart of most of the creative play. Wingers Scroggs and Belcher were also terrorising the full backs with some great skill. Slade were not creating any real pressure, and anything they did throw at the Freeland defence was easily dealt with.

Freeland broke the deadlock when midfielder Ben Sadler spanked a free kick from thirty yards straight into the top corner. The pressure continued and Freeland were unlucky not to increase the lead, instead hitting the woodwork on a number of occasions. Striker Harriott thought he had scored and started his choreographed celebration only to see his shot rebound back off the post.

Winger Scroggs was unlucky not to have been awarded a penalty when he appeared to have been brought down by any one of three players who attempted to tackle him. It was left to striker Salter to double the lead when he pounced on a poor backpass and robbed the keeper to put the ball into an empty net.

The second half was a different story, and Freeland never got going and deservedly Slade grabbed a goal. They should have levelled the game when the Slade winger rounded keeper Leach but could only fire over with an open goal at his mercy. Keeper Leach found himself in the refs notebook when he came rushing out of his area and the ball hit his hand. Slade could not take advantage of the resulting free kick, but soon after they drew level when striker Lewis grabbed his second of the game.

Freeland were tiring on a bumpy pitch and Slades fitness began to show as they hit Freeland on the counter attack, and a ball fired across the six yard box was only kept out by a great last ditch tackle from Rob Belcher.

With Freeland seeming to be clinging on to a point, with two minutes to go AJ Longford popped up with an invaluable winner. A forty yard cross field pass from The Prophet found Belcher who crossed early and after a huge shout from Longford Scroggs dummied and the classy Longford then calmly slotted home for an Angel Delight of a goal to cue great celebrations from the Freeland players, supporters and bench.