Four-Mid Able Display Extends Lead At The Top!

6 weeks and several storms had passed since we last took to the pitch and it almost felt like we'd travelled back in time. Gale force conditions tested both sides however we were able to adapt and take advantage of extending our lead at the top of the table. The win was made even more impressive when we were without 3 key players in Charlie Hacking, Alex McDonald and Kaleb Sweeney who was a late withdrawal through illness. The rest of the lads really stepped up and a slight change in shape was deployed which was very much 4-4-1-1. Skipper Paddy Clegg played just in behind Gift Sibanda who led the attack and they complimented each other perfectly. Some great play in the middle third by Ben Devlin resulted in a great cross being put in which Gift Sibanda bulleted a header past the Atletico stand-in keeper only for the referee to rule offside. Paddy Clegg's pinpoint pass in the 26th minute saw Ethan Danku running in on goal however his effort lacked conviction giving the keeper an easy save in the end. Danku who was relishing the start on the left of attack was involved when the deadlock was finally broken after 28 minutes. His cross was dummied by Paddy Clegg and Sibanda's shot was saved, our number 8 reacted quickest however to fire home his 4th of the season with a low driven right footed effort. The goal settled us down and we began to take control of the game going in at the break with a deserved 1-0 lead although we felt it should have been more with both Clegg and Danku missing great chances.

We doubled our lead just 2 minutes into the second half when Zico's cute through ball found Sibanda who rounded the keeper to toe poke home for his 15th of the season. Sibanda then turned provider in the 65th minute when his cross was dispatched superbly by Danku with a backheeled finish and with 8 minutes remaining he struck again when Clegg's awareness cut open the Atletico backline and found our number 19 who's first shot was saved resulting in the rebound coming back to him and finished off at the second attempt which takes him to double figures on what has been a very impressive season. Overall it was a great result on what was a difficult day and takes us closer to claiming the title.