Dobwalls 0 Foxhole 2

[Darin Morse]

Dobwalls 0 Foxhole 2

Saturday 11th October 2008

Depleted Foxhole secured their third win of the season in this thrilling, hard-fought encounter at sunny Lantoom Park. With Griffin unavailable and Nicholls on county youth duty, Capeling's role as a lone striker produced his best game for some time, midfielders Watson and Bromley stood out like Glen Johnson at B and Q, and Rowe and Adam Holland ensured little was seen of the home forwards.

The Foxes should have scored after 12 minutes when Butler, speeding faster than that other right-winger, Joerg Haider, chose not to square the ball which allowed Glassup to parry before Crane hacked off the line in the ensuing scramble. A magical dribble by Watson unfortunately ended in shooting like Tommy Cooper, but, although they had settled well and continued to threaten, their penchant for holding a high line nearly proved their undoing as the unchallenged Bartlett collected a clearance from Glassup, but his wayward shot had the accuracy of an Ashley Cole back pass.

On 25, Steve Tapper's miss from Hake's cross was right out of the Chris Iwelumo school of finishing, and then McPherson headed tamely wide from a corner, but, once the Foxes' defence had dropped ten yards, Ryan Holland was not to be alarmed again until the dying moments of the game. Instead, Foxhole went ahead two minutes before the break, Warne sidefooting home at the far post after a great cross by Bromley.

Immediately following the restart, Bromley's name was taken for delaying a free-kick, joining Capeling (earlier cautioned for a push on Davey) and Dillon (a foul on Capeling) in the book. On 54 minutes, Foxhole doubled their lead when Capeling released Butler to finish with aplomb, and Bromley almost made it three but his powerful strike hit the side-netting, his final contribution before hobbling off with an ankle injury.

Warne may have converted inviting centres from Butler and substitute Friendship as the Foxes remained impressive until a late rally from Dobwalls saw Adam Holland make two brilliant last-ditch tackles on Hake and Bartlett. Ryan Holland was finally called into action, bravely smothering from Crane before, on 87, the big keeper denied Davey from the spot after Warne had mistimed his challenge on Crane. Davey's frustration was evident when his subsequent dissent earned him a yellow card, and Foxhole comfortably saw out time to clinch a deserved victory, the only blemish being Maynard's late booking, although his actual misdemeanour was unclear.

Foxhole (4-5-1): Ryan Holland 8; Phil Hobbs 8, Lewis Prince 8, Mark Rowe 9, Adam Holland 9; Andrew Butler 8, Jason Warne 7, Ross Maynard 6, Tom Watson 8, Adam Bromley 9 (sub. Kyle Friendship 7); Steve Capeling 8 (sub. Matt May 6).

Dobwalls (3-5-2): Ellis Glassup; Barry Crane, Jeff Dillon, Andrew Davey; Dan Murdoch, Dan Tapper, Steve Tapper, Spencer Wilson, Luke McPherson (sub. Nick Souness); Martyn Hake, Jack Bartlett.

Referee: Mr Chris Stevens (Fowey) 6.

[Lafs]

Darin......pure class. :clapper: