Pelham Battle For Draw!

Casuals and Pelhams injury plagued side battled hard and held on to a 1-1 draw against SC Birchanger in the first group game on the Bert Yabsley/Charity Salver tournament. Pelhams large squad has been depleted via injuries and they turned up to this game with barely an 11, with only 6 players fully fit. Pelham started the game fairly well and put together a couple of good passages of play but couldn't really grind out a real opening at the end of them. Birchanger then also created their own opportunities but some good saves from the Monk kept it at 0-0. However it was Pelham who broke the deadlock as Dan Boyce picked up the ball just outside the area and looked to play a through ball in behind for Jamie Richards to latch onto. The Birchanger right back tried to cut the ball out and got a toe on it forcing it back towards the goal, however the keeper had alter made the decision to come for the ball, and it drifted past him and into the back of the net, 1-0 to Pelham. Pelham stood firm and looked good for their lead. However they went into the break at 1-1, as Birchanger countered from a Pelham corner with the home side failing the clear their lines, and Birchanger nipping in and pinching a goal. Pelham came out in the second half knowing with their depleted team it was going to be a tough 45 minutes. They battled hard and rode their luck at times and after some more good saves from the Monk, Pelhams 11 (10 for majority of the half) held on for the 1-1 draw. Good result considers the circumstances and helps us to progress into the next round of the cup. Massive thank you to everyone who put in a shift today, and we turn our attention to the next cup game and focus on sealing qualification from the group.