The Reserves secured a vital three points, with a 2-0 win over fourth place Willington at Benson Park.

This was a hard earned win against a physically stronger Willington team who despite having only the bare eleven and being forced to swap their keeper (who turned out to be a more than useful outfield player) for an injured outfield player early on, kept coming all game.

The Reserves were short at the back, in more ways than one, with a hamstrung Matty Laws out for the season, skipper Alex Martin unavailable and Peter Curtis also out for the season due to Phd commitments. A somewhat diminutive Reserves team took the field with midfielders Tim Burke-Murphy and Rory Monaghan filling in at full back and James "Tart" Almond partnering Trigger Robinson at the heart of the defence. The new look back four competed well throughout with both central defenders outstanding, the uncharacteristically vocal Almond deservedly earning Man of Match honours.

Willington with their size advantage caused numerous problems from in-swinging corners especially in the second half but the Reserves hung on to their clean sheet through determination and a little bit of luck.

Mark Rogers and Sam King, back with the Reserves after a spell in the 1st team, both put in industrious performances in the centre of midfield covering vast amounts of ground. King became more influential as the game went on as his decision making improved while Rogers continued his outstanding recent form, with first time skipper Gaz Hopkins and Nico Heslop working hard on the flanks, the Reserves strung together some excellent moves.

Paul Menton playing in hole behind lone striker David Alexander, scored the first with a brilliant diving header from Hopkins cross and for his second calmly rolled the ball past the keeper left footed after Rogers played him in. These goals gave the Reserves confidence but at half time the players knew there was still a lot of work to do.

In the second half the high tempo was maintained and numerous chances were created with the impressive Alexander three times battling his way to the bye line and unselfishly pulling the ball back for Heslop to embarrassingly blaze over an open net and strike the post and substitute Rich Turner to be denied by a desperate challenge. Robinson headed over from a corner and Alexander somehow contrived to miss from yards out after being set up by Hopkins, as the Reserves continued to push forward to get the third goal, which would kill the game.

In the latter stages Martin Pollard became the third player in club history to make his 250th appearance, after Hopkins and fellow substitute Roger Miller when he entered the fray.

Author: Pad

Team: R.Scott, T.Burke-Murphy (P.Miller), R.Monaghan, M.Rogers (M.Pollard), J.Almond (MoM), D.Robinson, N.Heslop (R.Turner), S.King, G.Hopkins, P.Menton 2, D.Alexander