Saturday 1 February 2020

Wormley Rovers 1 Newbury Forest 1

Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South, Saturday 1st February 2020


Strugglers Newbury Forest saw Montiero level with twelve minutes to go to make sure the visitors grabbed something from their game at Wormley Sports Club against Wormley Rovers in a Thurlow Nunn Eastern Senior South contest.


The hosts had won both of their games under the new management without conceding a goal, and had beaten their opponents only a week ago at Oakside, so they knew a quick double over them would see them possibly close the gap to the top ten and maybe give them a late shot at the top four.


Forest on the other hand were looking for only a second win of the season, and after grabbing their first one at the start of December, they have lost five straight since, so they were hoping to not only revenge last weekend’s loss but also try and close the gap to Brightlingsea Regent Reserves above them, with the gap seven points at the start of play and having five games in hand too.


The opening ten minutes saw a long range effort from the hosts fly wide, and when the visitors first chance came, it should of seen them take the lead, as a corner into the six yard box found an unmarked Adewunmi head the ball onto his shoulder and see it go over the gaping goal, it was a golden chance with the keeper nowhere.


Wormley then got in down the right through Edmee, but his cross was wayward and flew out for a throw on the other side of the pitch, whilst back down the other end the hard working Montiero dispossessed the visitors in defence but could only drag his shot wide.


The hosts then sent a ball to the back post but a volley was fired back across goal rather than at it, before back down the other end again the visitors saw a decent ball in by skipper Anderson just about punched clear under pressure by keeper Grundy.  Forest were so far belying their lowly position in the table.


The visitors then fired over through Montiero, before Linger almost got on the end of a decent ball into the Forest area down the other end, but he could not stretch enough to get any contact on the cross and saw the ball go through to keeper Simpson.


Forest then missed another guilt edged chance late on in the half when after good work down the left by Huddart, his ball in to Montiero saw two of his efforts blocked by a desperate defence, before a third attempt was sliced wide. 


It meant the half finished goalless with the visitors the better side so far.  Wormley just hadn’t been at the races and cut a frustrated look about them thus far, and they knew they had to improve somewhat in the second period.


Half Time Wormley Rovers 0 Newbury Forest 0


The hosts created a good chance after the break as after Forest keeper Simpson had thrown a ball straight against one of his own defenders and seeing the ball go out for a corner, that set play found Lovett who could only head wide from close range.


Linger then almost got on the end of a poor backpass from the visitors but saw keeper Simpson come and clear the ball ahead of the forward, and Wormley’s fast start to the half continued as Linger saw an effort saved by Simpson.


The hosts then spurned another opening as a ball to the back post saw Linger attempt a volley whilst stretching to the max, but his effort went back across goal and off for a goal kick, and another mistake from the visitors allowed Offer a shooting opportunity but he could only fire over.  Forest had been very sloppy in this period and the hosts were working much harder now and were much improved from their first half showings.


Rovers substitute Roberts was then released down the left but his ball in towards Linger was smothered by Simpson as the hosts continued to dominate the second period, but Forest gave them a warning when Huddart struck an effort over their goal down the other end.


But, in the 69th minute the hosts did find a way through when Ridley half volleyed an effort from twenty five yards or so and saw it take a slight nick off a defender and beat Simpson to his left into the top corner, and Wormley had the lead.


The hosts quickly looked for a second and maybe killer goal as Roberts cut inside and fired an effort at goal but Simpson got down to save, but the visitors were slowly getting more of the ball again and in the 78th minute levelled as a cross in from the left saw Montiero rewarded for all his hard work by finishing across Grundy and into the far corner.


Forest now felt they could go on a win it and somehow failed to take the lead soon after when a ball to the back post found substitute Cole whose first time effort was somehow kept out by the hosts, and it was now Rovers who were under pressure.


Scully then sent a looping volley towards the hosts goal but it wasn’t powerful enough to beat Simpson, before Linger fired off target down the other end, and then the visitors saw two more efforts blocked inside their own box as Forest threatened again.


The visitors burst forward and saw Huddart fire an effort at goal, only to see Grundy get down to save, before the hosts broke on their opponents but Linger had strayed offside just as he was about to shoot.


Despite all this attacking effort though, neither side could find a winning goal meaning the game ended all square and a point each.  It means Wormley stay 13th and nine points off the top four with thirteen games to go, whilst Forest do end that losing run at least and cut the gap to third bottom Regent Reserves down to five points with four games in hand.


Full Time Wormley Rovers 1 Newbury Forest 1  









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