CHIPPY DINK

Freeland A 3 - 0 Chippy Town Res

Freeland A grabbed a crucial win in front of a packed Elms Road crowd this afternoon as they defeated Chippy Town Reserves by three goals to nil. There were a few changes from the team that was so unlucky the week before with Karl Shepard making his Freeland debut, a transfer that is sure to please the female fans. Nathan Langford partnered Footitt in attack after another injury to Richard Howe.

The game started very scrappy, with both teams failing to keep possession for any amount of time, misplacing passes and making the wrong decisions. After the first ten minutes though a Lee Tomas inspired Freeland started to make hay. Langford was causing problems for the Chippy defence and Footitt was hounding down the Chippy defenders giving them no time on the ball. Footitt went close when Hardy dissected the Chippy defence with a through ball but the keeper made a good save.

Footitt missed a couple more chances, a header which he put over and another which was well saved again. Eventually Freeland made the breakthrough and it was new signing Karl Shepard who scored it. Picking the ball up thirty yards from goal, he ran forward and arrowed the ball into the bottom corner from twenty yards to send the swooning fans into ecstasy.

Freeland continued to press, and were starting to become more composed, the midfield was being completely bossed by Tomas and the relatively new centre back pairing of Paton and Panting was looking as solid as it has been the past few weeks, Leach was barely troubled in goal. Freeland then doubled there lead when Tomas whipped in an inch perfect delivery and Langford stopped to head the ball past the Chippy keeper with a cute finish.

The second half was more of the same, with Freeland dominating, Holden nearly doubled his tally for the season after a tricky run, but after doing all the hard work he shot straight at the keeper. Footitt, who had missed a host of chances then scored a wonder goal, twenty-five yards from goal he spun and cracked a left footed volley into the roof of the net for a goal of the season contender.

Freeland brought on wily ex internationals Fenwick and Stanley and hot prospect Callum Parker as they looked to contain Chippy and keep their lead. Langford limped off with a worrying ankle injury which is hopefully not to serious as he looks to aid the Reserves own promotion push, Freeland moved to five in midfield and stopped any chance of a Chippy onslaught. Freeland saw the rest of the game out with no real problems for a well earned and very important victory.