Sheffield travelled to Earl Grey and put in a solid performance on the worst pitch they have played on this season. The early exchanges were all about each team finding their touch as the surface was uneven and very heavy; resulting in a few balls over the top from the home side which the defence dealt with very well, Batts particularly reading the game well and Tony being involved from the start as a good outlet for the central midfielders.
As the half progressed Stan and Brian started to influence on the left, the latter creating some space for himself in the box but opting to shoot when he had good options square. It was indicative of the game as the surface meant neither side had time on the ball, with plenty of slips from players as they were kicking it. Earl had one or two useful looking players but the Accies contained them and were slowly beginning to assert their authority on the game. Hodgy was having a busy game on the right in the worst part of the pitch and him and Tony were causing problems; Tony but a great ball into the box which just eluded Alex and Swifty. Matt G and Jamie were picking up scraps in the centre and using their full backs well.
Ten minutes before half time came a turning point with Batts over stretching for a clearance and tweaking his thigh, Dan Kav came on to replace him with Alex dropping to centre half and Dan making the 3 up front. Swifty, Bri and Dan pressed the Earl defence who had been trying to play some football but forced a mistake as the defender had his clearance blocked by Swifty who then ran on and brought an excellent tackle from the centre half, but this left a space in the middle as Brian ran onto the loose ball and pulled a great cross back into the box for Dan Kav to tap home from a tight angle with his first touch on the stroke of half time.
Half time 0-1
The second half began strongly for the Accies with plenty of chances being created and plenty of possession; although lacking the final ball at times. Alex came off injured and was replaced by Steve McCulloch in the centre of the park, and Daz came on for Swifty who had done plenty of running, Matt G dropped to centre half in a move he may have regretted shortly afterwards! A free kick by Earl was drilled in and Matt watched it all the way onto his foot and smashed it into the top corner of the goal leaving Godders with no chance. You ‘don’t save them Godders’ was all I heard amid the stunned silence that followed….it was the only shot they had mustered on target up to that point but was closely followed by another great shot as their number 9 worked some space and drew a marvellous save from Godders in the Accies goal.
This spurred on the Accies and Tony and Hodgy combined again down the right with Hodgy releasing Brian who did really well to beat his man, cut inside and lift the ball over the keeper high into the net with power to restore the advantage. Moments later Dan Kav was released but his touch drove him wide with a corner resulting which Steve Mac met but his looping header just dropped over the bar. It was all Accies by now and Dan should have had a penalty when he beat the offside trap and nudged the ball past the onrushing keeper only to be taken out; the referee waving play on when even the Earl players had stopped for the penalty kick.
Earl were only capable of long balls forward and Matt and Ryan mopped everything up with no more scares for Godders; Tony and Stan supporting both defence and midfield really well. With ten minutes to go Dan was hacked down yet again wide on the left and took the free kick himself; with the keeper taking up a strange position at the front of his six yard box Dan curled a high ball with pace to the back post which dropped into the top corner; effectively ending the contest and drawing a few bad tackles from the disgruntled Earl players. The ref blew the whistle on a good performance and the Accies went home with the points.
Full time 1-3
