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Freeland Res 2 - 1 Marston Saints Res

A sell out crowd at the Simon Hole Memorial Ground turned out to see what could only be described as a must win game to keep Freelands title hopes alive. The Reserves have turned the famous ground into something of a fortress this season, and were confident of getting the points with their unbeaten home record. They boasted a team full of skill, flair, stamina and Si Hole.

The opening ten minutes were played in the middle of the park, with both sides canceling each other out, knowing the importance of the game neither side wanted to concede an early goal. Freeland had the majority of the possession, and winger Scroggs was causing problems down the left with some mazy runs. For all the possession Freeland could not quite find the end product to reward them and Marston were happy to soak up the pressure and try to hit Freeland on the counter, but anything they threw at Freeland was met by Stuart Hole, who won everything in the air, ground and even managed to tidy up after his brother.

Freelands best chance of the half fell to striker Glastonbury, after a left wing cross by Scroggs, the portly striker found himself free but he could only direct his header wide. Marstons only threat was from set pieces but keeper Leach was commanding his box and plucking anything out of the air. Simon Hole caused mush amusement for the capacity crowd when his thirty yard effort sliced off his foot and ended up going over the Steve Lay stand.

The second half saw Freeland come out with only one thing on their mind and that was three points, for the first twenty minutes it was all Freeland. Winger Scroggs had the best chance to put Freeland ahead when he found himself unmarked on the edge of the box but snatched at his shot and dragged it wide. Marston still showed few attacking intentions and were soaking up the pressure and hitting Freeland on the counter, but the ever youthful Trigg and Hole Jr were putting pay to most attacks.

The game was heading for a stalemate, with Freeland looking wasteful and Marston not creating much, the game needed something speacil to spark it into life, and it was worth the wait. It came from the home side just after the hour when they won a free kick forty yards from goal. There was only one candidate to take it, and young Jack Tweed lookalike Stuart Hole stepped up and hit a thunderous free kick that swerved and dipped and left the keeper rooted to the spot and applauding as the ball flew into the top corner.

Despite being a must win, Marston did not chase the game and it was Freeland who looked more likely to score again. They had claims for a penalty turned down when another excellent delivery by Hole Jr picked out his older brother Hole Snr but the French international felt he had his heels clipped when going up for the header, the ref waved play on and hole came face to face with the away sides larger than life keeper to remonstrate.

It was no surprise when Freeland doubled their lead, top scorer Paul I score Goals Salter chased the ball down and pressured the defender into a mistake and once in front of goal there was only one outcome, the home fans went wild as the ball whistled into the back of the net.

It was only now that Marston started to chase the game and this left them exposed at the back, but Freeland could not take advantage of this, and in the last minute they managed to grab a consolation when from a corner after a mistake in the box led to an easy tap in, however from the restart the ref blew for full time and this sparked Mourinho esque celebrations from the Freeland bench who knew they were now in the box seat for the Division Three title.