Ayo Odukoya netted in the 18th minute as White Ensign picked up all three points against an in form Frenford at The Len Salmon Stadium to keep up their charge for the top four in the Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South.
The hosts had only lost once in fourteen league games and were top of the form guide coming into this one, whilst Ensign were creeping up the league table after catching up on some of their games in hand after their cup runs from earlier in the season.
This was billed as a potential cracker with both sides averaging at least two goals a game although both sides were pretty good defensively, the hosts had the second best defence in the division thus far whilst Ensign had only let in five more themselves, so it was going to be a decent game we thought.
Adukoya sent a long range effort just wide of the hosts goal in the first chance of the contest, before the hosts then saw Andy Ademokah fire a powerful effort at the visitors goal but George Martin managed to tip over the bar, before the resultant corner was punched away from under the bar by Martin.
Luke Skinner then volleyed straight at Frenford keeper Luis Silva from a decent position, but in the 18th minute the visitors led as Odukoya turned onto his left foot and fired an effort at goal which found the net and the visitors had the early advantage.
Visiting midfielder Brad Gates almost saw a free kick sneak in at the near post, but this was cleared off the line, whilst down the other end Frenford skipper Carl Conway curled wide, but it was the visitors who were edging this contest.
Ensign attacker Dominic Locke then burst into the hosts area but saw his powerful effort go straight at Silva, and then a ball forward from the visitors almost saw both Odukoya and then Skinner almost latch onto it, but keeper Silva came charging out to smother the ball and thwart them.
The hosts finally managed to put some pressure on the visitors towards the end of the half and saw Alex Watson cut inside before firing an effort at goal which Martin got down to turn round the post, but it was the visitors who led at the break and deservedly so too.
Half Time Frenford 0 White Ensign 1
Luke Woodward fired an early second half effort just wide of the visitor’s goal before down the other end Skinner just failed to connect with a Gates free kick as the hosts managed to scramble clear.
Ensign then broke down the left through Odukoya but his effort flew wide of the near post, then Odukoya got in again down the left but his ball into the six yard box was brilliantly cleared by a defender as Skinner was coming in for a tap in.
And Ensign should really have doubled their lead when Locke was laid in, but his finish was wide of the far post, and then Locke went close again, firing wide of the near post.
Jason Reynolds-Blanche then had an opening down the right but fired wide of the hosts goal, before more Ensign chances saw Odukoya see an effort deflect wide before Darren Phillips sent a looping header at the Frenford goal but Silva managed to catch above his head.
Frenford sent two balls into the Ensign box, the first one saw Martin spill wide of the post before the second one saw Martin claim under pressure and fall onto his goal line and just about keep the ball out.
Conor Barnby, on as a second half substitute for Ensign, got into a decent position for the visitors but his ball towards goal was poor and was cleared, whilst the hosts scuffed wide at the other end.
Despite Ensign’s dominance and chances in the half, they were now coming under pressure late on from the hosts, who are famed for their late goals this season too, and the visitors so nearly paid for all those missed chances when hosts substitute Ian Sawyer curled a free kick against the post.
The visitors though survived the late pressure to take a deserved win, and although it should have been more comfortable for them, they did take a big three points, taking them into sixth and just seven points off the leaders.
For Frenford it was only a second loss of the season in the division, and despite two spells towards the end of both halves, they were second best this evening and remain in fourth and only a point above Ensign now albeit still in a very good position in the division.
Full Time Frenford 0 White Ensign 1
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