Team:  Lee, Tom, Alex, Joe, Jack, Luke, Conall, James (Cpt), Lewis, Oscar,

Rob, Liam,  Sam, Marcus

Goal:  Lewis 1

Its always tough to do a report on a game like this – you really had to be there. In the end a first half of little incident – led to a second half with enough for several matches and luckily my duties end after the final whistle is blown!

The first 40 minutes was all fairly insipid to be honest, no real clear cut chances, neither midfield controlling the ball enough to provide threatening build up play and the lack of precision in the final third seemed to characterise both sides performances. Maybe some nerves, certainly a lot of hesitancy in front of goal, but it was a game in need of some spark to turn it into a worthy semi-final.

In the second half forging runs from James and then Conall seemed to get us going and the Wealden Keeper was called on to tip over a thunderous drive from Conall. Wealden were under pressure. but nothing solid on target was forthcoming and it took a mazy run from Oscar who was brought down inside the box for a penalty to open the scoring. Lewis  calmly converted the spot kick but injured himself in the process.

Rather than calm our nerves the goal seemed to galvanise Wealden, who posed a constant threat down the right wing and through the centre. A good run on the right wing was saved by Sam, but Wealden kept on coming and persistence bought reward with an unmarked shot from inside the box, after we failed twice to clear the ball.

With the score at 1-1 further injury problems meant Oscar was carried off with a hamstring tear and with a rejigged formation the game opened up. To be fair we looked capable of getting a second, but Wealden did too and some strength from their centre forward was rewarded as we pushed forward and left ourselves exposed. With the score at 2-1 Wealden were mindful of using the right side to keep the ball down our end of the pitch. Some half chances fell our way with Marcus almost sneaking a goal at the near post, but our rhythm was well disrupted by an organised Wealden side. The third goal again came from the right with a good cross which should have been met with a head and not a dangerously high foot.

The last goal was really only the result of needing to push on when 2-1 down and it was overall a game that could have gone either way. We seem to be developing a habit of coming out on the wrong side of these sorts of games and in the end the Wealden side just proved too much for us.

We will come across Wealden in two league games later in the season and need to find a way to cope with their style of play on the field which won them the game today.

Neil Jackson