A Chid Onokwai hat trick helped Bowers & Pitsea bounce back from Monday’s disappointment with victory at Coles Park against Greenhouse Sports.
The visitors knew that only a win would do following their shock home defeat to Sporting Bengal United two days earlier if they were to keep up their title/promotion aspirations in their own hands and they started well in this one, taking the lead in the 6th minute when a cross into the six yardarea saw Charlie Portway go up to challenge hosts keeper Aliu in the air, see the ball fall loose and the striker duly smashed home from close range. Most people in the ground were waiting for a free kick to be given against the forward but this didn’t come and the goal stood.
On 12 minutes Scott Pethers launched a long throw into the hosts penalty area and a flick on almost got turned in by a host defender but keeper Aliu managed to dive on the ball and avert danger, however, the visitors then won a penalty a minute later when Jamie Salmon was brought down inside the box for a penalty and saw Chid Onokwai step up to convert and the visitors had a two goal cushion.
It took the host until the 25th minute before they had an effort at goal, although the strike went well over from distance although they had come back into the contest slightly since the opening few minutes. However they were always looking vulnerable at the back and a misunderstanding between keeper and defender on 27 minutes almost saw Portway steal in to score but keeper Aliu managed to recover before Onokwai then burst into the area but saw his effort hit Aliu before bouncing off the forward into the side netting.
On 34 minutes the hosts failed to clear their lines but Onokwai’s close range effort was weak and allowed Aliu to save and then six minutes before the break Ross Adams saw his header cleared off the line from a corner, but, deep into first half stoppage time the visitors scored again as a Salmon free kick saw Aliu inexplicably punch onto the back of Onokwai’s body and the ball duly went back past the keeper and in, giving Bowers a comfortable three goal lead at the break.
Half Time Greenhouse Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 3
There was no let up from the visitors after the break as they went for a quick fourth goal and three minutes into the second half Portway got in down the right and his pull back found Alfie Hilton whose effort was tipped over by Aliu, then on 52 minutes it really should of been four as a great back heal released Hilton and he squares for Onokwai who stumbled over the ball but still managed to get it back but then fired wide of the target.
Just before the hour mark a good effort from Ramiravelo from distance went straight at Bowers keeper Martin Guest but it was the visitors who were doing most of the attacking, putting more pressure on the hosts and keeper Aliu dropped a ball again from another attack but got away with it as there were enough players back to clear the danger.
However with just over twenty minutes to go Trenkel was pushed over inside the box for another penalty to the visitors and Onokwai stepped up and converted emphatically for his hat trick and the Pitsea sides fourth of the evening. With just under fifteen minutes to go the ball broke to Portway inside the area but saw hosts keeper Aliu save well at the feet of the striker before more comedy from the Greenhouse keeper Aliu, this time totally mis kicking a back pass to Portway, but the forward saw the ball hit his knee and go off for goal kick. It was to be the strikers last contribution as he appeared to hurt himself in chasing down the ball and was substituted. Bowers will hope it’s not to serious especially after Lewis Manor was ruled out for the season with a hamstring problem.
The hosts rallied late on as Bowers eased up and with four minutes left a great run through by Oyemakinde saw Guest come out and hit a clearance against the striker and saw the ball roll towards goal but the visitors got back to hack clear and then three minutes later Serrar fired straight at Guest for Greenhouse although it was far too little to late for the now well beaten Greenhouse outfit.
Bowers take the points then and now know they only need to wins from their final three games to guarantee promotion and Ryman North Football for next season. They can also still win the title too and if they win their final three games this will be achieved. It proves to be an exciting end to the season.
Full Time Greenhouse Sports 0 Bowers & Pitsea 4
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