A real feeling of déjà vous struck when you caught a glimpse of the weather forecast during the week and for once they got it right and after two days of solid rain the pitch was the same as last week’s quagmire, the only difference was that it was not frozen underneath. With the experience of last week and an opposition who occupied the bottom spot in the league, Cringleford fancied their chances and had all of the early pressure. Howie, fresh from winning through to the FA Vase semi-final, and Wilson took early control of the centre of midfield. Mortimer and Fairman caused the opposition plenty of trouble and an early goal to settle the nerves looked imminent. The Hellesdon keeper was putting in a MOTM performance and despite several chances failed to convert.
Following a long punt by the Hellesdon keeper, Bartlett and Skipper got their communication all wrong and ended up clashing when going for the ball. Skipper came out of it worse and ended up with a gash on the side of his head. As the blood poured from the wound I felt Bartlett’s comment, “It serves you right for not calling for it” was a little unfair and unsympathetic! Off went Skipper for repairs and on came Massood at left back where Payne had slotted in well for the early exchanges.
As Mortimer fired in a low shot the keeper could only parry the ball back into play and as Fairman and Payne latched on to the rebound, Payne called for it as he had the easier chance of the two to slot it into the open goal, but unfortunately fired wide from an angle that must have been more acute than it looked. Cringleford continued to press and had several corners, they came closest when Mortimer hit the bar direct from the corner but they failed to convert the pressure into goals.
As the ball was played across the box from the left an under pressure defender stuck out his leg, the deflection fooled the keeper and the ball bobbled tamely into the net, one – nil to the Cringleford!
Playing with a strong wind the defence were rarely troubled in the first half by Hellesdon who although they had a lot of the play, lacked the final killer ball to their front men.
Ecky palpitated and was replaced by the eager Jennings who came on in midfield and made several forward runs. Cringleford needed a second to give them the all important cushion as a slip up in the poor conditions was always a possibility. The second goal came when the superb Phil Motimer fired in low from distance giving the Helleson keeper no chance, two – nil to the Cringleford.
Wilson went off early in the second half with a hamstring injury and Cringleford had to re-shuffle with Jennings moving into defence and Payne into the centre of midfield, this gave the bloodied Skipper the chance to show off his bandaged headgear. Did he look anything like Terry Butcher, no he looked more like something out of a Sikh horror show although you are supposed to wear a turban round your head not on your head like a giant tit!
With the wind and two down Hellesdon threw a bit more at the Cringleford defence, but despite the reshuffle the defence held out, determined to keep a clean sheet. Dennis looked strong and Bartlett who is playing his best football in a Cringleford shirt bossed the right side of defence and gave the lively Hellesdon winger little opportunity. When the defence was rarely breached they found an in form Alan, who got important blocks in on more than one occasion.
As players tired the game started to open up and cringleford had more chances although it was going to take something special to beat a strong Hellesdon defence. Up stepped MOTM Phil Mortimer who received the ball on the edge of the box with his back to goal, he cleverly turned the defender and then curled the ball with his left foot into the top corner over the keeper in what must be a contender for goal of the season.
Howie continued to spray the ball about well from the centre of midfield, mastering the conditions better than most and combined well with Skipper and as Skipper cut in from the right his effort from a tight angle brushed the cross bar.
The game finished three-nil to Cringleford to further keep the pressure up on Horsford at the top of the league. With Cringleford on a good run they look forward to entertaining Taverham at home next week, but it does appear the heavy pitches and the thought of three games on the bounce are starting to take their toll. The boys will need to dig deep!
