SDFL Division Five
Newton United reserves 1,
Stoke Fleming
and Strete 2
After the deeply disappointing defeat the previous week to a very average Barton Athletic side, Stoke travelled to Denbury to face the then unbeaten Newton United.
From the kick off Stoke looked the more composed side with Shepherd and East, in his unfamiliar position of central midfield, spreading the ball around the pitch excellently.
Wingers Hogben and Jackson pushed on to the full-backs as Stoke harassed and closed down the Newton backline, forcing them to kick the ball long.
It didn’t take long for Stoke to take the lead after Copeman found Hogben on the right-hand side.
Hogben took the ball in his stride, glided past two defenders and played an inch-perfect pass across the Newton 18-yard-box for the onrushing Bruckner to finish.
Stoke looked to have doubled their lead when Bruckner robbed the defender on the edge of the box, only to see his effort smash against the post.
Stoke continued their dominance of the first half and looked set to march through the match until, against the run of play, a defensive error led to a penalty on the stroke of half time.
Newton converted the penalty to send the teams in level at the break.
The second half was a completely different event to the first half as Newton set about asserting their authority on the game.
The back line of Sharam, Moisey, Clayton, and Church worked tirelessly to keep the scores level despite waves of Newton pressure. They were helped massively by a man-of-the-match performance from Luke Webber between the sticks.
Webber looked like a man possessed as he made a string of top saves to deny the Newton front line, the pick of which was a point-blank save low to his left.
With three minutes left to play Copeman won a corner after a great passing move involving captain Shepherd.
Bruckner whipped in the corner and Jack Hewitt ran across his marker to head the ball past the ‘keeper and snatch all three points.