Holybourne Veterans Reserv 2 vs 2 Ropley Social Vets

A great team effort to gain a point against the top team in the division.

Challenging conditions today saw a strong wind blowing diagonally up the slope, the wind was so strong that Gary was late to the game cycling into a headwind (nice lycra btw...)

Both teams were a match for each other in the opening exchanges and both teams had chances with the best of Holybourne's play coming from probing balls down the right wing (think they were intended for the left wing but such was the strength of the wind :) )

With the conditions it was hard to find a rhythm, 2 tactical changes were made after about 25 minutes with Will and Micky coming on for James and Mark Lomas to attempt to settle the ball in midfield.

A lucky refereeing decision went our way where Ropley were denied a penalty for handball - the ref seeing the handball as Kev protecting his face. A couple of moments later the ball came in from the Ropley wing and found their big midfielder who spanked the ball from outside the box into the corner of the goal. Nothing that Craig T could've done to stop it. It was a good goal and Ropley saw it as justice for the earlier decision going against them.

At half time Holybourne came in 0-1 down but had played excellent football in a close half.

With the wind behind Holybourne and kicking up the slope, we started well and routinely sent balls for Mike to chase down the flanks. One of these through balls saw Mike send in a pinpoint cross for Mark Lowes who headed superbly into the top right corner of the goal from the penalty spot. A fantastic header (think he accounted for the wind too!) and Holybourne back in it with a deserved equaliser.

More pressure from Holybourne saw some great passing around the penalty box and a pass into the box saw a foul by a Ropley defender. It was enough to warrant a penalty from the ref and Mark Lowes coolly slotted home to put Holybourne ahead.

Both teams had more chances and Ropley almost pulled one back from a free-kick on the right which cannoned off the bar. But towards the end of the game, Ropley forced an equaliser from inside the box.

I went home after that so didn't catch the end but I heard that Holybourne were outstanding all over the pitch for the remainder of the game with amazing headers, athletic overhead kicks and long range screamers being denied only by the woodwork...

Final score 2-2, a great team performance against a good Ropley side who remain top of the league. Very close at the bottom end with 4 teams split by one point.

Man of the Match: Mark Lowes