On another wet, cold and windy morning, another unjustice in results for FNK UTD left a dissapointing feeling after a match in which, again, they had the majority of the possesion, chances, only to come away regretting missed oppotunities.
Manager Steve Batten made two changes from the team that drew with LG UTD, with new signings Lloyd Jackson and Eden Owens making first apperances in place of keeper Asa Owens and the unfortunate Joel Sage who suffered an ankle injury in training. From kick off Fnk started brightly and were soon on the attack forcing a corner, as usual Noller produced excellent delivery, the ball bounced to the back post where Mills was waiting, however his shot went wide of the near post with the defender trying to add to his goal that he scored earlier in the season against Avisford.
After a good opening spell of pressure and possesion, Whyke took the lead around the quarter of an hour mark, good work from the oppostion left winger forced a corner, Utd won the initial ball and tried to counter attack, however with everyone pushing out and a loss of possesion, Whyke found themselves quickly on a two on one situation which resulted in a calm pass and finish for the home side. It didn't stop Fnk's confidence, when last year they may have crumbled, they picked themselves up and went straight on the attack, with numerous chances going begging. Starting with some great play towards the left of midfield between D.Batten, Noller and Owens which ended with Mayell with a shot at goal with a defender breathing down his neck the effort was wide. Then great closing down again ended with another couple of chances for both Mayell and Weller. From a corner D.Batten had the ball land at his feet but was unable to adjust and get any real power behind his shot and was blocked. After winning a freekick on the half way line, there would have been a contender for goal of the season, with Folly whipping over a delightful ball with pace, Weller, just inside the penalty box hit an outragous volley, only for it to be in range of the home keeper to tip onto the bar. There looked as if Utd were denied a clear penalty, with a ball played into the box, D.Batten was running onto and the covering defender slid in and took the player but none of the ball and the referee gave a goal kick. The last chance of the half went to Noller, after more good play this time down the right, the ball was laid off at the edge of the box with Noller running from deep, had his shot hit the far post, across the goal, hit the keeper and out for another corner.
The second half started a little slowly for UTD and unfortunatley, a nice passing move from the home side, ended with the ball in the back of the net. On 60mins S.Batten made two changes with Mills and D.Baten being replaced by two more debutants in Hoops and Jake Merritt. Merritt moved up front straight away and nearly scored with his first touch when out musculing a Whyke defender to release a shot which the keeper saved.There was consistantly good closing pressure from the UTD midfield and whenever the midfield was breached Mitchell, Folly and Turner had it covered. A.Batten who again had a good game in sheilding the back three came off on 70mins to be replaced by Webby. In the last fifthteen minuites, the system was changed to a 3-4-3 formation and with UTD throwing caution to the wind, the game started to open up. It was end to end with Whyke on occasions finding space on the wings and drilling low balls into the box, only twice they had oppotunities to strike, both times blocked by good, solid defending. With the game being stretched, there was more space for Hoops, Noller and Owens to exploit, and a threw ball to Merritt tried to hit it with the outside of his right, where Weller was waiting square may have been the better option. A block on the line from a corner and a cross from Mayell to the far post that was gavered by the keeper was the last action of the game. Another great performance, but another game with what could have been.
