On a cold and rainy Sunday morning at Leafy Lane in Corsham, 2 teams that have had mixed results in the league to date, met for the first time in their history.
Corsham Park, one of several newcomers to the league, have had some big wins this season, including beating fellow newcomers Lacock FC. They entertained the only remaining Division 3 team from last season, Cavalier FC – a team who themselves have had mixed results, including coming close to a shock win over Stonewood last week, before ultimately self destructing in the 2nd half.
For the 5th time already this season, Dec McEniry failed to show up prior to kick off. This put a major dent in Roger Wiltshire’s plans, as Carl Ledbury and Chris Underwood both pulled out at late notice, leaving the Devizes outfit with a bare 11. With several players in the side carrying injuries, the game became a whole lot tougher.
From kick-off it was apparent that Corsham Park were a beatable side, and Wiltshire was left to wonder how good this victory could’ve been if everyone was available.
Cavalier started the brighter of the 2 teams, with Rance and Booth playing as wingers in a 4-3-3 formation. Rance in particular was seeing lots of the ball in the opening stages, but couldn’t create anything with his final pass. After 20 minutes, Booth found himself in space down the left, cutting the ball back to in form striker Jez Wiltshire. Jez scored his 3rd goal in 3 games with a ferocious striker from 25 yards – the ‘keeper got his palms to the ball but the shot had too much venom to prevent the goal.
Antony Butler then received a nasty injury and had to go off for 10 minutes. This put Cavalier on the backseat defending their slender lead. At the half hour mark, Corsham found a way back into the game. After the manner of the defeat last week, Roger Wiltshire was hoping his side would sharpen up at defending set pieces, but yet again, conceded from a corner kick. A Coorsham player was left unmarked on the edge of the box, and fired home through a host of bodies past a helpless Marcus Rossi for 1-1.
Cavalier were now clinging on to half time hoping to keep the scoreline level, and nearly went into the break 2-1 down, but a headed effort from the Corsham striker rebounded off the base of the post. Rossi also made a great diving save before half time.
HALF TIME: 1-1.
The second half was again closely contested. With no substitutes at their disposal, Cavalier started to fade. It was somewhat against the run of play that the game’s 3rd goal came about. After a beautiful pirouette in the middle of the pitch by Leigh Blanchard followed by a dink down the line to Dan Rance, the winger took on his man before unselfishly passing across goal to Mike Booth for a tap in – a rare well worked team goal for the away side.
Unfortunately Cavalier’s lead didn’t last long, as they again conceded from a set piece. After Antony Butler needlessly dived in to a tackle 30 yards from goal, the resulting free kick was floated over to the back post, where 3 Corsham players were left unmarked to head into an open goal.
At the 65 minute mark, Corsham took the lead for the first time in the game. After good link-up play down the Cavalier’s left side, their impressive central midfielder dinked a shot to the back post
attempting to chip Rossi. Unknown to the Cavalier ‘keeper, the shot was going wide. Rossi tried to palm the effort away from danger, but in doing so, guided the ball into the roof of the net to give Corsham Park a 3-2 lead. With the fresher legs of the 2 sides, it seemed that it was now game over.
However, after a long ball was pumped into the box, Leigh Blanchard was hacked down by a combination of the ‘keeper and a defender. The referee rightly pointed to the spot. Antony Butler stepped up to the ball and confidently sent the ‘keeper the wrong way to bring the scores level once again at 3-3.
With Rob Hannah injured and unable to be substituted, Roger Wiltshire had to make the decision of putting Hannah upfront out of the way. Andy Holman filled in at centre back. This seemed to unsettle Cavalier, as Corsham were piling constant pressure on the defence to find that 4th goal. After a Cavalier set piece was cleared away, Corsham broke with pace and intent. The Corsham striker found himself through on goal after 3 Cavalier defenders failed to pick up on his run. He smashed the ball into the bottom corner out of Rossi’s reach to once again give Corsham the lead.
Cavalier heads now dropped as they thought all their luck had ran out in this game. With legs tiring, a pacey Corsham substitute went on a mazy run down the left wing before curling a shot into the far bottom corner to give Corsham a 2 goal cushion for the 1st time in the match.
Cavalier were looking to end this match with a degree of pride intact, and when Antony Butler was put through on goal, it seemed a comeback may be on the cards. The Corsham ‘keeper got a rush of blood to the head and charged off his line to hack down Butler. The referee once again awarded Cavalier with a penalty. Butler again stepped up, smashing home into the roof of the net.
FULL TIME: 5-4.
Overall, a positive result considering who we had missing on the day. But this could be a result that come the end of the season, we will be left wondering what could have been, as Corsham Park were a very beatable side who will now probably go on to finish near us in the league table.
