Awful Sunninghill Defeated...
Today Sunninghill put in their worst performance in a long time throwing away a 1-0 half time lead to go home with a 2-1 defeat, even with the poor performances enough chances were presented to put the game to bed before Spelthorne came back.
The game started slowly and scrappily with the ball spending a lot of time in the air, neither side really playing any football, with Clinton Harcup making an early change replacing Charlie Harcup at right midfield with Paul McDowell but this did not really change the flow of the game as the lack of pace in the Sunninhill midfield was meaning that Spelthorne were overrunning us in the middle.
As the half continued chances were few and far between, Reagan was forced into a couple of saves which never really tested the young stopper, Bennett had a 20 yard effort tipped round the post by the Man Of The Match Spelthorne keeper,
The visitors were trying to keep the ball on the deck but the superb defence never looked like conceding with the home sides man of the match Hallt winning everything and controlling the defence well, and just as it appeared to be a goaless first half the home side struck right on the stroke of half time as the Spelthorne left back mis controlled the ball and Bennett was able to get to the ball first and bundled the ball round the keeper before poking into the net ahead of the Spelthorne defender, sheer persistence giving the home side an undeserved half time lead.
The second half was a little better as Sunninghill had the goal advantage started to create a few more chances which would have killed the game off but were squandered, firstly Bennett found himself clean through but chose to square to an unmarked Keough but only suceeded in over hitting the pass out of play, before minutes later an even worse miss as Keough collected a poor clearance from the keeper before crossing across the goal where Bennett got to the ball and although his effort was on target was not struck with any conviction and the Spelthorne no1 was able to dive across the goal and scramble the ball wide, making up for his error that led to the chance,
A long free kick was half punched by the keeper under pressure where makeshift striker Keoughs effort was cleared off the line, before Spelthorne got an equaliser when the ball was given away in the Sunninghill half and a square ball 20 yards out was met by the centre midfielder who directed his shot into the bottom corner to make it 1-1, the game carried on and had draw written all over it with neither side creating any noteworthy chances before with 15 minutes left a corner from the right was met unchallenged by the Spelthorne centre back who powered his header past Reagan giving the keeper no chance.
Sunninghill threw men forward as the clock ticked down but were unable to create anything worthwhile as the team were frustrated and out of ideas as the final whistle blew Spelthorne had beaten us at home for the first time ever.
Player Ratings
Chris Reagan - 7 - Few good saves, didnt have a lot to deal with otherwise besides goals
Jai Zutshi - 6 - Dealt with opposite number for most of game and looked comfortabke
Stuart Hallt - 8 - Won everything and didnt give strikers an inch, controlled defence well
Rob Harcup - 7 - Like a rash didnt give strikers a moments rest, resulting in booking for rugby tackling striker!
Jonty Gurr - 7 - Reliable display, got forward on occasion and did everythin asked defensively
Charlie Harcup - 6 - Didnt really have enough time to make impact before being withdrawn early on
Dan Parker - 6 - Won headers but seemed to get over run in midfield
Tim Finch - 5 - Struggled in the middle against a more mobile Spelthorne midfield
Toby Underwood - 6 - Few good balls but didnt cause problems consistently enough
Jon Keough - 6 - Won headers and looked to link up but still failed to make sigificant impact
Jon Bennett - 4 - Didnt make an impact and squandered glorious chances to put game to bed, scored.
Subs
Paul McDowell - 5 - Found it hard to influence game in unfamiliar right midfield role
Ben Moutrey - 6 - Battled well when introduced, put tackles in and looked to get the side playing.
