The hosts knew any sort of win would take them to the top of the division on goal difference over Leigh Ramblers and with games in hand as well would put them in a decent position. The visitors had their own agenda though and were looking to put more daylight inbetween themselves and the bottom two which stood at four points before kick off.
Galleywood had stuck thirteen goals past bottom club Westhamians last weekend but this was always going to prove a much more difficult assignment and it didn't start well for the visitors as they were caught cold as barely a minute had gone and Ensign led 1-0 as weak defending allowed James Nolan to get through and he slotted past the keeper who got a big hand on it but the ball just about rolled in.
However if the hosts thought their afternoon would be a walk in the park they were very mistaken as Galleywood were more than matching their opponents and on 17 minutes should of levelled when they got through on goal but the home keeper made a fine save to keep it at 1-0. Seven minutes later and it really should have been 1-1 as the visitors went even closer as the ball fell to them inside the box and it was stabbed against the post meaning another let off for the hosts.
Ensign tried to regain their authority with a chance on 27 minutes when a short corner was played to winger Jamie Brown who cut inside onto his left foot and whipped an effort just wide of the upright. It was Ensign's only real effort on goal apart from the first minute strike and they were being made to work very hard by a decent Galleywood outfit. Ensign made it through to the half still one goal ahead but knew it could of been much worse had the visitors taken those guilt edged chances midway through the half.
Half Time: White Ensign 1 Galleywood 0
The hosts almost doubled their lead on 49 minutes as a free kick from the right caused chaos inside the Galleywood area and the ball was struck at goal but hooked off the line and then from the resulting cross again the ball was struck towards goal and this time headed off the line and the hosts looked to begin the second half as they started the first.
Four minutes later defender and forward tangled on the edge of the Ensign box and it looked as though the home defender was fouled but instead the visiting forward got the ball and was fouled as he tried to go through on goal. The referee gave a free kick to Galleywood on the edge of the box but only booked the Ensign defender, some may say he was lucky to not receive a red although he looked to be fouled first anyway so maybe that would of been slightly harsh. The free kick incidentally came to nothing anyway.
The match was very scrappy at best in the second half as both teams struggled to get the ball down or control their passes which kept going array. On 68 minutes the hosts had a very good chance when good play between Sisson and Williams saw the latters cross headed over poorly when it should of at least been on target.
The hosts then had the added problem of going down to ten men when as their centre half went off Injuted and all of their subs had already been made, and Galleywood were looking the more likely to score although they lacked that killer touch up front. Ensign then managed to find a second goal with nine minutes to go and relieve the pressure somewhat when after great play from Jamie Brown his effort across goal was parried to Hamid Zamani who tapped home the rebound via a defenders outstretched leg to make it 2-0.
It was harsh on Galleywood but they could not take their chances when they came where as Ensign did and that is what makes the difference. So a scrappy performance by the hosts but they do go top with the win and have two games in hand as well. Galleywood had chances but failed to take them but pushed Ensign all the way in this match.
Full Time: White Ensign 2 Galleywood 0
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