Today’s opposition Albury, have had mixed results this season with their big claim to fame being the only team to have beaten Forest Row in the league, but they also have had been beaten by the lower clubs too so very unpredictable, last time we met at their ground we won 6-1.

With their unpredictability in mind, I’d asked ours boys to go out fast get an early lead, but as it turned out this wasn’t to be the way of the game.

We kicked-off and indeed we did take the game to Albury, we commanded possession and wasn’t too long before Ben De Turris played a delightful ball in to Freddie, who hit a first time shot and only narrowly missed the goal going wide. A short while after Saint Hill were back in their box and this time Freddie shot the ball home, to our horror the linesman disallowed the goal saying the ball never crossed the line even though it appeared that the keeper pawed the ball back from well within the net, still the boys continued to play good football and pressed forward even more, again it looked like our efforts were rewarded when Freddie slotted home from a fine through ball but again the linesman flag went up this time for an offside, both disallowed goals were dubious decisions and on another day both could have been given.

The half pressed on and Ben De Turris had another great effort stopped, this time by the angle between the post and the crossbar. We totally dominated possession but were finding Albury a hard nut to crack, out lads style of football was changing with too many long balls and long range shots.
Albury gave very little up front and anything that did break through was dealt with comfortably by our defence.
We went into halftime 0-0.

At half time we talked about the long balls issue and asked that we get back to our pass and move game and the triangles we like to play, and to keep their head up because chances would come their way.

The second half kicked off, the football did improve a little, we seemed to using the wings more, particularly the left side, Adam was having more influence over the game and it was about ten minutes into the half when his dogged determination saw him through on goal and hit a fine shot which the keeper couldn’t hold on to, but Freddie was on hand with his predatory skills to put the ball into the back of the net, Saint Hill 1-0 up, it had been a long time coming.
Now with the lead our game improved and it wasn’t too long before Ben De Turris found himself through with the ball after being hit in the midriff, even though he looked partially winded he continued forward and slotted the ball past the keeper, there was a moment of discussion between the referee and his linesman because the lino had flagged for an offside, it seemed there was a player in an offside position when Ben knocked the ball forward, it was deemed that player wasn’t interfering with the game and so the goal stood, Saint Hill were 2-0 up.

At this point Adam and Josh switched wings, and it wasn’t long before this switch almost gave up a third, Adam crossing the ball from the right for Josh running in from the left, Josh found himself in space but unfortunately fired his shot straight at the keeper.
Almost at the end of the game Adam who still on the right ran in with the ball only to fouled in the box, penalty to Saint Hill, time for Toby to get on the score sheet, he stepped up hit a good shot, unfortunately for him the shot grazed the top of the crossbar, the last kick of the game, we won 2-0.

So winners 2-0, this meant whatever the other results were today we were going up the table to at least third or even second if Storrington and Ockley drew. It was one of those days when we didn’t play our best, but we won and that is the main thing, we did create a lot of chances and at times it seemed we didn’t get the breaks we deserved, but or endeavour and persistence paid dividends in the end.

From the teams point of view they battled well and were never under any real threat, for the second consecutive week Toby had very little to do, he pulled off one good save and his anticipation was good on a couple of occasions, coming out well, his communication and encouragement was good too. Shame about the penalty but I’m sure we will get him one before the season ends.
The Defence performed well keeping another clean sheet, I believe that is 5 out of 6 in 2011, well done lads.
The midfield, it didn’t flow as well today but saying that there was still some good moves played and chances too.
Finally Freddie, chances came his was early on and was so unlucky not to be on the score sheet in the first half, but persistence showed that keep going and keep pressing gives rewards and Freddie got his with a good follow up from Adams shot.

My man of the match today goes to Adam, his second half battling performance was worthy of this award, he really dug in to get that first goal when he could have easily gone down, well done Ads.


Goals:

HT 0-0

Freddie
Ben De T

FT 2-0