A SUBLIME effort by Jay Churchyard gave the Metaltec SIL a solitary goal victory over the Kent Blaxill Border League in Wednesday evening's Inter-League match.
A SUBLIME effort by Jay Churchyard gave the Metaltec SIL a solitary goal victory over the Kent Blaxill Border League in Wednesday evening's Inter-League match.
Churchyard took control of the ball in plenty of space in the 77th minute and unleashed a terrific shot from 25 yards that was still rising when it struck the roof of the net, giving the keeper no chance, in front of 64 spectators at Cornard United FC.
This was the game's brightest moment in a match that was played at a frenetic pace throughout but lacked creativity allowing two organised defences to be largely dominant and in control. Both sides were guilty of wasting possession from good positions and unable to find real quality and make an impact in the respective final thirds of the pitch.
The Border League did well to defend a series of free kicks and corners whilst Ricky Griggs blasted a free kick over the SIL woodwork and rifled a shot that went just wide.
On the whole the SIL had the better of the first half and missed a great chance when Alan Ditchum set up Carl McCarthy with a square ball across the face of the goal but he failed to find a connection from six yards. Ditchum then went close in the 35th minute with a dipping shot that went inches over.
There was more quality in the second half from both sides and the SIL went close when following a penetrating run down the right the ensuing cross to the far post saw Matt Ryland diving in full flight but his header went just wide of the post. Moments later Churchyard forced keeper Matt Windrup to make a comfortable save and Karl Sandilands sent a fierce shot wide.
The Border League side put some pressure on their opponents and in one spell the SIL were fortunate to scramble the ball away and on another occasion Griggs took advantage of a loose ball and dispatched a low shot that Nathan Allison did well to save.
For the Border league the pairing in defence of Glen Leziak and Lee Sharp was a great success but could do little to prevent Churchyard's wonder strike.
The game was played in good spirit throughout with the SIL retaining the Trophy that was presented by Border League secretary Richard Degville.
The squads
Border league squad: Matt Windrup (Little Oakley); Johnny Miller (Team Bury), Lee Sharp (Little Oakley), Glen Leziak (Earls Colne), Ben Parker (Hedingham): Liam Macklin, (Dedham Old Boys) Gary McIllwaine (West Bergholt), Ricky Griggs (Brightlingse Regent), Lee Nash (Holland): Ross Nash (Weeley Athletic),Marcus Warren (Earls Colne) Paul Angel (Hedinghams), Michael Angier (Brightlingsea Regent) Paul Hoadley (Hedinghams)
Metaltec SIL squad: Nathan Allison (Coplestonians): Chris Wright (Leiston St. Margaretts), Daniel Claxton ( Framlingham Town). Nigel Bradford (Capel Plough), Andrew Crump (Grundisburgh): Dan Hazleton (Woodbridge Athletic), Alan Ditchum (Ipswich Athletic), John Davis (Coplestonians), Carl McCarthy (Woodbridge Athletic) Mical Moore (Ransome Sports), Matt Ryland (Grundisburgh), Karl Sandilands (Grundisburgh) Jay Churchyard ( Grundisburgh) Wayne Leeks (Framlingham Town).
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