The UEA 2s produced their best display of the season to record their first clean sheet and head the league table for the first time this year. Kos Tragoustis, Conor Bell and Geraint Evans played as if they were Iniesta, Xavi and Sergio Busquets in the middle of the park to dominate title contenders Marlborough OB from start to finish. The U's dictated the tempo from the off and showed their hand in making it apparent early on that they were there to pass and move all over the pitch. Early chances for Katase, Wargent and Read came without testing the keeper too much, yet The Yellows could be pleased with their early work. Tragoustis, playing in his first game this season for the 2s, was causing havoc in his number 10 role and his floating behind the striker was making the opposition defence uneasy when they had the ball. This led to UEA taking the lead where a poor clearance was intercepted by Tragoustis, who showed quick feet to get past two defenders and open his body to slot the ball into the bottom corner. UEA were not content with a solitary goal advantage and were playing some champagne football on a surface that was not the easiest for it. Rafuse and Katase continued their partnership down the left to give the Marlborough right back a difficult afternoon, and both got forward well to put some testing balls into the box to no avail. Some intricate, sharp passing between Katase, Bell, Tragoustis and Read led to Katase being put through on goal, however the goalkeeper made a smart save to deny him a third goal in as many games. Tragoustis was looking more and more dangerous as the half went on and soon grabbed his second of the game after some exchanges with Bell and then Read seeing him played in to slot home. A long ball over the top and some miscommunication led to Dryden having to clear the ball off the line and then a Marlborough free kick out wide saw a free man arrive to force Kibbey into a well-made save to keep the two goal advantage. UEA weathered the storm and were able to get back on top of the game before half time and complete a very pleasing first half.
Being two goals up at half time against a team that had only conceded four goals all season was a great place for the U's to be in, yet the next goal would be crucial in determining the game's outcome. Marlborough came quick out of the blocks and had a good 10-minute spell at the start of the half that could have seen them get back into the game, yet the UEA defence and goalkeeper Kibbey held strong. Marlborough's long ball over the top was causing the U's a few problems with their pacy striker looking to get in behind the defence, but Marlborough were unable to get a convincing shot away. More great play through the middle and out wide saw Read have a number of chances to get himself on the scoresheet, yet he was unable to find the finishing touch to his smart runs. The killer goal came when Katase had the ball in the left corner and showed a combination of skills to beat two players, including one with a nutmeg, and was brought down in the box before he could pull the trigger. With Tragoustis not wanting the penalty to complete his hat-trick, Rafuse put the ball on the spot and, as expected, sent the keeper the wrong way to make it two in two games for the 2s skipper. Marlborough soon sent their big men to the front in an attempt to have target men to support their long balls, yet the U's held on to their clean sheet to be convincing winners in a fine team performance.
The win puts UEA top of the league, with one point more and one more game played than 2nd placed Homecare and seven points and three games played more than 3rd placed Marlborough, who play each other next weekend. The matchday squad can be delighted with their performance and commitment for all 90 minutes and every player played their part in what was a crucial victory. However, the best player on the pitch was Kos Tragoustis who was unanimously voted man-of-the-match in a spectacular display.
