As reported on this site last week, the events late on at Peacehaven 7 days ago, had a galvanising feel about it and the Magpies were keen to ensure that their first experience of home comforts for 4 weeks would see them build upon that show of character. They were missing Charlie Pitcher through suspension and Ed Davies due to illness, but Reece Batchelor was now well enough to make his debut after joining from Horsham and Toby House was to take his place in the starting line-up and all were delighted to see Adam Williams make his return from a long-standing injury, with his first match day action since the reverse of this fixture over 4 months ago.
Both teams began the match at a high pace and intensity, so much so that they were cancelling each other out in terms of creating any clear-cut chances in the early stages. Indeed, it wasn't until the 17th minute that the first threat of a goal arrived, and although Harry Bachelor found the net with his header following Batchelor's cross, the assistant's flag meant that the effort was void. Two minutes later the visitors troubled Dave Carruthers in the Magpies goal for the first time but Andy Goodwin's speculative effort from distance was comfortably fielded. House's header from another right-wing cross failed to threaten but moments later Lee Thomas pulled the trigger for The Anvils but Eddie French appeared from nowhere to block the fierce strike from the one-time Magpie.
Both teams began the match at a high pace and intensity, so much so that they were cancelling each other out in terms of creating any clear-cut chances in the early stages. Indeed, it wasn't until the 17th minute that the first threat of a goal arrived, and although Harry Bachelor found the net with his header following Batchelor's cross, the assistant's flag meant that the effort was void. Two minutes later the visitors troubled Dave Carruthers in the Magpies goal for the first time but Andy Goodwin's speculative effort from distance was comfortably fielded. House's header from another right-wing cross failed to threaten but moments later Lee Thomas pulled the trigger for The Anvils but Eddie French appeared from nowhere to block the fierce strike from the one-time Magpie.
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The visitors were forced into a change between the sticks on the half hour mark when Martin Hopkins succumbed to a back injury and in the 34th minute, replacement Andy Greaves was powerless to stop a stunning hooked volley by Matt Daniel from an acute angle and breathed a sigh of relief when the ball cannoned back off the inside of the far post. And he was breathing even more deeply moments later when he felt the full force of a Lewis Scally challenge at a corner, but did well to punch the ball clear as well as recover from the subsequent clattering (right).
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The last major moment of the half came in the 42nd minute when House tried to play in Daniel but inadvertently put Bachelor through on goal instead. Although he had time and space the young midfielder tried to slot the ball home early but could only scuff his effort wide.
After the break, the home side's intensity appeared to be cranked up a notch. Within seconds Joel Colbran cut back in off the left and delivered a delightful, deep ball to the far post where Tom Frankland was arriving, but his guided volley on the stretch went agonisingly wide. Colbran was involved again a minute later, this time linking well with Daniel before unleashing a drive from the edge of the area that Greaves did well to beat away to safety. He was less troubled by Bachelor's drive in the 49th minute from a recycled corner, which he could carefully watch just over the bar.
After the break, the home side's intensity appeared to be cranked up a notch. Within seconds Joel Colbran cut back in off the left and delivered a delightful, deep ball to the far post where Tom Frankland was arriving, but his guided volley on the stretch went agonisingly wide. Colbran was involved again a minute later, this time linking well with Daniel before unleashing a drive from the edge of the area that Greaves did well to beat away to safety. He was less troubled by Bachelor's drive in the 49th minute from a recycled corner, which he could carefully watch just over the bar.
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It was from another corner in the 57th minute that the Magpies forced their clearest opportunity yet. House struck a volley goalward from the edge of the area and with Greaves out of position Goodwin was adjudged to have blocked the effort with his arm by referee Richard Sargeant (right) and to be fair to the visitors there was little protest at the call, although there were understandably some questions over how the defender avoided so much as a booking in the process. House got up to take the penalty himself and duly dispatched it low to the 'keeper's right (above).
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In line with the adage that you're never as vulnerable as when you've just scored, the visitors had their clearest sight of goal for the whole game in the 62nd minute. Dan Sullivan rose very well at the far post to meet a well delivered cross from the right on the break but he could only head straight at Carruthers from point-blank range and the home stopper gratefully gathered the ball. 5 minutes later the hosts took a real stranglehold on the game. Colbran and Scally linked up well on the left-hand side enabling the former to deliver an inviting, in-swinging ball into the 6-yard box that Daniel took full advantage of by getting across his marker and guiding a header inside the near post to double the lead and with it bag his 2nd goal for the Club (left).
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Despite this further set-back, the visitors threw caution to the wind to get back into the game and with 15 minutes left it looked like Oli Leslie would do just that but Clyde Jacques recovered well as the striker was about to shoot goalward and French was then again on hand to deny another fierce drive from Thomas with an equally impressive block. Leslie was denied again just two minute later when Carruthers shot off his line to bravely seize the ball at his effort. The Magpies went straight down the other end from there and the recently introduced Williams showed composure belying his lack of match practise in the inside left channel and calmly squared the ball to House who duly lashed the ball into the unguarded net to secure his 16th of the season and seal the points. In fact the young striker could have had more if he'd been less eager with runs in behind that were rightly flagged offside and had he held his nerve after being found by Williams' exquisite reverse ball but Greaves did well to close the angle and smother the opportunity.
The Magpies wasted a number of further opportunities to get away in behind a visiting defensive line that was now playing extremely high as they tried desperately for at least a consolation goal and as such the match would finish with just the three goals, but most importantly it meant three points were secured for the first time in eight attempts and saw the Magpies get back into the top half of the table and firmly looking upwards again.
Whilst there were many very pleasing performances on the pitch today, perhaps the most impressive was not by anyone who kicked a ball in anger. On a day where many grounds in the local area weren't deemed to be fit for play our ground staff demonstrated their excellence and commitment by ensuring that the Plaistow Road surface was not only passable but also played extremely well throughout despite having been subjected to a lot of rain, snow and ice in the last few days.
Team: Bachelor (Williams 74), Batchelor, Carruthers, Colbran, Daniel, Frankland (Ramsey 70), French, House, Jacques, Napper, & Scally
Subs not used: M Beard & Hilfiker
Lacey & Sons Man of the Match: Byron Napper
The Magpies wasted a number of further opportunities to get away in behind a visiting defensive line that was now playing extremely high as they tried desperately for at least a consolation goal and as such the match would finish with just the three goals, but most importantly it meant three points were secured for the first time in eight attempts and saw the Magpies get back into the top half of the table and firmly looking upwards again.
Whilst there were many very pleasing performances on the pitch today, perhaps the most impressive was not by anyone who kicked a ball in anger. On a day where many grounds in the local area weren't deemed to be fit for play our ground staff demonstrated their excellence and commitment by ensuring that the Plaistow Road surface was not only passable but also played extremely well throughout despite having been subjected to a lot of rain, snow and ice in the last few days.
Team: Bachelor (Williams 74), Batchelor, Carruthers, Colbran, Daniel, Frankland (Ramsey 70), French, House, Jacques, Napper, & Scally
Subs not used: M Beard & Hilfiker
Lacey & Sons Man of the Match: Byron Napper