Once again the Reserves were left ruing missed opportunities as comical finishing and uncharacteristically poor defending cost them dear in a 3-3 draw with Medicals. On the positive side the Reserves showed spirit to battle back from a goal down at half time against a bigger and stronger Medicals side and can draw confidence from the number of chances they created.

The Reserves looked dangerous from the start against a square Medicals defence, which persisted in keeping their line too far up the pitch. They had already threatened when the influential Paul Menton ran on to a clever David Alexander flick to calmly clip the ball over the keeper, a finish of top class. Tragically, the previously unthreatened Reserves defence allowed a miss hit corner to pass the man at the near post to give Medicals a simple chance from close range, which they gratefully accepted. The Reserves continued to dominate with left back's Peter Curtis long throws and Menton's set pieces causing the Medicals dodgy keeper real problems, luckily for him his defenders saved him on numerous occasions with brave last ditch challenges. It was no surprise then, when the dangerous Alexander controlled a long throw and turned his man to smash an unstoppable left foot shot past the keeper to deservedly put Garnett back in the lead. Minutes later disaster again struck when a Medicals player ran unchallenged onto a hopeful punt to round keeper Rob Scott for the softest of goals. Medicals gradually began to impose themselves physically on the game, with their number 9 Donahue living up to his league leading Man of the Matches reputation but generally the smaller and younger Garnett midfield competed manfully with greater desire and pace compensating for their lack of power. Unfortunately shortly before half time, the industrious Mark Rogers was muscled off the ball and Donahue raced through to drive a shot across goal. Scott saved well but the rebound was headed in, again unchallenged.

At half time the Reserves were upset at the score line as they had rarely allowed Medicals anywhere near their goal despite being against the wind. The second half started with the Reserves well on top and desperate to score and committing men forward in numbers with Medicals adopting the same tactics it made for a highly entertaining and eventful second half. The Reserves created the greater number of chances with the otherwise excellent Gaz Hopkins and Alexander both missing glorious chances but they had to thank keeper Scott for a couple of brilliant saves as Medicals broke away dangerously and the referee who missed a definite foul by Robinson on danger man Donahue who was proving a real handful. With twenty minutes left the tiring Rory Monaghon and Tim Burke-Murphy who had both covered an immense amount of ground were replaced by the eager fresh legs of Rich Turner and fresher Nico Heslop. Heslop immediately impressed with his first touch and decision making, with minutes left his peach of a cross was glanced in by Menton to the delight of all in Green and Black. A fitter Reserves side finished strong and both subs fired narrowly over before Alexander squandered one last golden chance of a much needed win. The game marked veteran left back Peter Curtis's first game back since the birth of his son Oliver, and Oliver would have been impressed.

Author: Pad

Team: R.Scott, M.Laws, P.Curtis, M.Rogers, A.Martin, D.Robinson, P.Menton 2 (MoM),
T.Burke-Murphy (N.Heslop), G.Hopkins, D.Alexander 1, R.Monaghan (R.Turner)