FREELAND BATTLE FOR VICTORY

Broughton & NN 0 - 1 Freeland

Another week and another must win game for a Freeland side. This time it was the turn of the First XI, they boasted the big names of Maskell, Hole Jnr and Mace in the squad. The away fans travelled in their hundreds for the massive game, hoping to see the side move one step closer to promotion.

The away side started strongly, with Brooks and MacNamara spraying the ball around and Stuart Hole looking threatening every time he got the ball. Freeland looked to take advantage of a Broughton keeper who looked shaky at best. With Freeland dominating the midfield Broughton resorted to trying to knock the ball over the top, but could only find the excellent Maskell, the French international Simon Hole, or the head of cockney wide boy Woodbridge.

It was no surprise when the visitors took the lead, and it was the hero of the Reserves game last week, Stuart Hole, who put the ball in the net after a great through ball from Gary Brooks. Shortly after this they were dealt a blow when striker Paul Salter limped off injured with an ankle injury, but Freeland had a strong bench and he was replaced by Ironik-a-like Jay Jay Harriott. The DJ made an immediate impact on the game with some superb work on the right hand side, and Freeland came close but fellow striker Trigg could not quite get to the ball.

The second half started as the first finished, with Freeland looking to extend their lead and put the game to bed. Midfielder Hole was again at the heart of things and on a number of occasions tested the keeper, and the field behind the goal, with some long range efforts and free kicks. Freeland could not find the killer second goal though, and as the game progressed Broughton started to exert some pressure of their own on the Freeland back line as they searched for an equaliser.

Broughton did manage to get the ball in the net, only for it to be disallowed for offside. A number of times Freeland rode their luck in defence, but to their credit were not content to sit back and they tried to double their lead. Broughton had a few attempts from range but they could not find the target to test the weird kid in the Freeland goal.

There was some dogged defending by the visitors and Simon Hole, my hero, made two great last ditch tackles when it seemed Broughton would equalise. As Broughton piled men forward Freeland were hitting them on the break, and substitute Mason had a glorious chance to put the game to bed when one on one with the keeper, but with the whole game to aim at, and about an hour to do it in, he shot tamely at the keeper. Gaffer Longford covered nearly as much ground as if he had been playing, marching up and down the touchline and kicking every ball.

Despite pressing for the goal, Broughton could not break down the impeccable defence and the visitors were grateful to hear the final whistle and claim a vital three points.

Happy St. Georges Day!!