Premier Division Match Of The Day Ends All Square...
After the game had to be changed to an away game during the week after the Victory Fields was in use for County Cup the side made their way over to Hawley Leisure Centre missing long term absentee Barron, Ward who was away and keeper Chris Reagan who had injured himself playing for Finchampstead the day before.
Jon Keough made his first appearance of the season partnering McDowell at centre back, Martin Riding moved from left back to play in goal with Clinton Harcup starting at left back, Zutshi was again on the right, Underwood, Moutrey, Parker and Forde made up the midfield, with Bennett and Finch up front.
The game started quite well with both sides looking to test each other out using a more direct approach, Wickens was looking lively for the home side and came close to scoring on 15 mins when he turned and let fly from 30 yards, his dipping effort always slightly too high as it grazed the top of the crossbar, before good play between the strikers resulted in Finch playing Bennett in behind the defence but the striker took the wrong option lifting the ball over the keeper and also over the bar.
Referee Phil Nash had control of the game, but was guilty of being over fussy giving away a free kick every time a player tried to speak to him, but after a 5 minute spell the game got back on and Wickens was unlucky again when his shot grazed the far post from around 15 yards.
Not to many chances were cretaed as the sides went into the break all square.
Half Time 0-0
The second half started with Blackwater having their best period of the game winning a number of corners, and from one of these they took the lead when it was half cleared and after a scramble in the area Millington Lee was able to lift the ball across goal and into the far top corner despite Underwoods best efforts to keep the ball out on the line.
A goal down Sunninghill could have folded but started to press forward creating a couple of chances, but didnt really test the Blackwater keeper, and with 15 minutes left following another corner Sunninghill drew level, a corner on the right was whipped by Underwood to the far post where McDowell climbed above the Balckwater defence to powerfully head home at the far post.
Now it was Sunninghill in the ascendency, but Blackwater still looked lively on the counter attack with Obe and Wickens both looking lively, but McDowell and Keough dealt with the threat fairly comfortably, with BBlackwater looking most dangerous with a few efforts from range that did not miss by much.
Blackwater looked to get their wingers involved as they started to pass the ball better and started to work it out wide, but Clinton Harcup and man of the match Jai Zutshi were more than up for the challenge not allowing the opposition wingers any time on the ball, even looking to build attacks from the back.
The game was pretty scrappy now with not to many chances being created by either side, both sides not wanting to take any un necessary risks to a lot of direct clearances were often missing out the midfield.
With 5 minutes remaining a free kick was won around the half way line, Fordes deep free kick was superbly controlled by Parker who turned his man 10 yards out and his effort was superbly saved by the keeper' only for the ball to drop to Bennett 8 yards out to slot into an empty net and give the away side the lead.
Holding a lead against Blackwater is something that we have not really done to well in the past and only 3 minutes later it was once again all square, when a through ball wrong footed Gurr and as Obe challenged Riding for the ball, it bounced loose for Millington Lee to find the unguarded net from 12 yards and bring the scores level.
Straight from the kick off Bennett won a free kick deep on the right and Underwoods inswinging delivery was heading for the top corner only for the keeper to pull off another great save, and as the final whistle blew the game ended in a draw, leaving us still as the only undefeated side in the league.
Full Time 2-2
A draw was probably a fair result as Blackwater did create a number of chances during the second period, and would have been hard done by to come away with nothing.
Player Ratings
Martin Riding - Drafted in to play in goal, some shaky moments but made some fine saves. 7.
Jai Zutshi - Another solid performance and man of the match performance. 8.
Paul McDowell - Dealt fairly comfortably with lively strikers, scored a good header before being replaced. 8.
Jon Keough - Solid performance, coped well with Blackwater forwards and dominated in the air. 7.
Clinton Harcup - No nonesense defending, took no risks and didnt look like being beaten. 7.
Ben Moutrey - Moved out to the right and performed well, looked to play and get on to support the strikers. 7.
Rob Forde - Battled well in midfield, put in good tackles and looked to drive the team on. 7.
Dan Parker - Did well alongside Forde, won a lot in the air, got forward and played a big part in second goal. 7.
Toby Underwood - Some good touches but struggled to get into the game, Put in great cross for equaliser. 6.
Jon Bennett - Quieter Display, looked to get in behind the defence and popped up with 2nd goal. 7.
Tim Finch - Showed good strength up front and looked to link the play with midfield. 7.
Subs
John Gurr - Replaced McDowell and showed good strength and pace at the back. 7.
Charlie Harcup - Late cameo little time to make an impact. 6.
