A brace from player manager Brett Munyard helped see White Ensign into the Quarter Finals of the Thurlow Nunn First Division KO Cup after dispatching Barkingside at Burroughs Park.
After the hosts had created the opening chance early on, seeing a close range header back across goal hit the back of another and end up in the keepers arms, they did take an 11th minute lead when a cutback found Bradley Gates who slotted home.
Side had a decent chance to get back on level terms soon after when they cutting inside but firing over, but they fell further behind in the 17th minute thanks to a terrific finish from Dominic Locke, firing brilliantly into the top corner.
The hosts then stung the palms of visiting keeper Ian Jack before he managed to dive on the loose ball before the hosts could gobble up the rebound, and then Side came close to grabbing a goal back but saw hosts keeper James Parkins make a decent save to keep them out.
Ensign then fired a dangerous ball across goal, before sending a long range effort at goal which Jack had to get down to parry away, and then Jack produced a brilliant stop to deny Ensign a third, as they were much the better side in this one so far.
But Side, who had looked dangerous when they had ventured forward, saw a volley well saved by Parkins before the rebound struck the post, although the flag had gone up so the rebound would not have counted, and then another good chance for Side saw the ball get under their feet and allowed the hosts to scramble away as the visitors ended the half well.
But those two early goals from Gates and Locke saw the hosts into the break two goals ahead.
Half Time White Ensign 2 Barkingside 0
Ensign had chances to increase their lead early in the second period, seeing Jack make another good stop before another effort hit the side netting, and then Jack managed to save a one on one as the hosts were carving through a fragile visiting defence.
Ensign then saw another effort saved before they did add a third goal just past the hour mark as a shot from outside the box from John Hilliard deflected off Munyard and wrong footed Jack and found the net, although Side were angry claiming it had hit Munyard on the arm, but the referee said no after discussion with the linesman and the goal stood.
The visitors were in danger of falling apart now and conceded a fourth in the 66th minute when a cut back from Gates found Munyard who controlled before firing in off the underside of the bar and the hosts were now cruising.
Ensign almost added another when a ball across goal just missed all and the far post, before Side did get in on goal but made a hash of it allowing the visitors to get back and clear, before they saw another effort from six yards go well wide and then they were shouting for a penalty but the referee again said no.
Side then saw a shot blocked but the hosts got in again but Jack yet again came to thwart them, and then down the other end Side fired wide at the back post on the stretch after a decent ball in from the left, and then Ensign got in yet again, but guess what, Jack made yet another save to thwart the hosts.
Ensign missed another great chance again, before Side blasted way over, and after Ensign had forced another good stop from Jack, Ensign had the chance to finish the contest with a fifth but saw the cutback go wide. It mattered not though as Ensign cruised into the Last Eight.
Full Time White Ensign 4 Barkingside 0
No comments:
Post a Comment