SAINTS FALL AT LAST HURDLE FOLLOWING A LACK LUSTRE PERFORMANCE

2nd MAY 2007

Score : Saint Hill Blues 1 Uckfield Grasshoppers 3

QUOTE - 'Thank you very much lads you are a credit to the League'- Referees' comments at the end of the match

This game could prove to be the last game of the 2006-07 season and sadly the Saints were looking very tired and out of salts. This evening fixture was the first and only of this season and ended in disappointment for the Saints. A win could have seen them finish 2nd in the table but it wasn't to be. The Grasshoppers could only field 10 players and as is the case with a lot of sides faced with this disadvantage proved to be more than capable of taking on the Saints. After only 4 mins a speculative 'lob' into the area by the advancing Grasshoppers found Burgess out of position and the stiff breeze took the ball beyond his grasp and into the net. From this point it was an uphill task. However, the Grasshoppers seem to enjoy a rich vein of luck when they come up against the Saints, after 15 minutes with the Saints fighting to get back in the game Steve Morely rattled the post when some six yards out. With 30 minutes gone the ball was cleared out of defence by the Grasshoppers and the ball appeared to cut right through the Saints backline and one touch from one of their forwards found the back of the net. Was that a lucky goal or did the Saints just watch as this goal unfolded? Halftime 0-2.

In the second half the Saints started with a lot more positive attitude and with Steve Morley pushing out on the flank they were now playing with 3 upfront. A fine effort from Morley who picked up on a through ball from Ben Marshall and Chris Theobald struck a high ball across the six yard area and with Eliot Law and Phil Stagg causing problems to the keeper the ball ended up in the net 1-2, game on. Well thats what we thought until a well taken Grasshoppers free kick for 30 yards found the roof of the net with Burgess again well beaten. So it wasn't Game on but game over. The Saints had little going for then this evening and in hindsight could have adopted the Grasshoppers tactics and had a few more shots as their keeper look far from comfortable. Good performances from Matt Needle, Elliot Saxton, Sam Blake, Josh Allard, David Smith, Johnny Buzzing, Ali Love and in particular Alex Smith but just pipping them all was Chris Theobald for his endless effort for MOM.