FREELAND HEROS UNLUCKY IN DEFEAT

Freeland A 1 - 2 Carteton A

The Simon Hole Memorial Ground was packed to the rafters this Saturday as Freeland A hosted Carteton A in a top of the table clash. Freeland were boosted by being able to hand a debut to Phil Mills, a dramatic transfer deadline day signing, and the return of Jamie Perkin, Darren Paton and long term absentee Adam Longford. Freeland were without the influential Lee Tomas once again and Matthew Hardy had the daunting task of filling the space left alongside the in form John Pyrah.

Carteton gave Freeland a taste of what they were about in the opening exchanges and dominated the first twenty minutes, the Freeland defence and Perkin had to hold firm from a barrage of fast counter attacking and long throws. Just when Freeland started to settle into the game Carteton rattled the bar after a long throw had caused confusion in the Freeland box. Freeland managed to weather the opening storm and started to create chances themselves, Longfords magic wand of a right foot going close twice from distance.

"the Carteton defenders were not given any time on the ball "

With Howe and Shepherd on the wings Freeland always looked dangerous and Howe was starting to get more of the ball and created a few problems. Phil Mills and Jason Footitt worked tireslesly up front together, and the Carteton defenders were not given any time on the ball. Freeland then broke the deadlock just after the half hour mark, Longford won the ball with a superb sliding tackle and then played the ball into Hardy, Hardy shimmied past a Carteton player before rolling the ball into the feet of Pyrah who charged past two more Carteton players before slipping an inch perfect ball through to Footitt who slotted home with a classy finish.

Suddenly Freeland were completely on top, and Pyrah became more and more involved, setting up a couple of half chances for Howe and Footitt. Freeland went in at the break a goal to the good and had to battle against a heavy wind for the second half. They did this well, and started the second half on top, Footitt was unlucky when he couldnt quite reach the end of a long ball, and Paton and Panting were getting the better of the Carteton strikers.

Carteton appeared to be crumbling and were starting to argue amongst themselves when they hit Freeland out of nothing with a sucker punch, Perkin was adjudged to have held onto the ball for longer than six seconds, and Carteton took the opportunity when they thumped in the free kick, the ball smashing the inside of the post on its way to level the scores.

"Perkin had to be at his best to make two brilliant saves to deny Carteton the lead"

It was Cartetons turn to cause the problems now, and Perkin had to be at his best to make two brilliant saves to deny Carteton the lead. But they were to be in vain as they eventually found the crucial goal, the Carteton midfielder, who had been kept quiet by Pyrah all afternoon struck a wonderful shot from twenty yards which, like the first goal, pinged off the inside of the post and into the Freeland net.

Freeland tried to get themselves an equaliser and went close twice, firstly Hardy saw his thirty yard strike well saved from the keeper and Pyrah struck the ball high and wide from six yards after a late goal mouth scramble in the Carteton box. Holden showed a couple of his silky touches, as did Parker after they were both thrown on, but Freeland could not get a crucial equaliser.

It was not to be though, but as the final whistle went the Freeland players could hold their heads high, not only for this performance, but for the whole season. The players have exceeded all expectations, and to still be in with a shout of the title and promotion against the likes of Stanton Harcourt and Carteton is a great achievement.