Saturday 25^th October 2008

Midland Combination Premier

Cadbury Athletic 2 Heather St Johns 1 

The Saints travelled to Kings Norton hoping to extend their five game unbeaten run against a Cadbury Athletic side who after a slow start have themselves strung together some impressive results.

The home side who base their game on work rate and endeavour were quick out of the blocks and were unlucky not to take an early lead when striker Ainge headed an inswinging corner over the Heather bar from close range. However, the Saints weathered the early pressure and eased into the game with Jon Jenkinson making a couple of surging runs down the right flank after good work from Gavin Pugh and Danny Martin.

Lee Taylorson won the ball in midfield and drove deep into Cadbury territory. His pass found Royce Turville who in turn played the ball between the central defender and left back for Roy Dunkley who saw his shot blocked by a good recovering tackle.

Sam Johnson broke up a Cadbury attack and played the ball up to Taylorson  who after a slick interchange of passing with Martin and Jenkinson put Chris Dodds through and he drove a low shot inches past the far post.

It was the Saints who were playing the tidier football in very blustery conditions but it was the home side who took the lead on the stroke of half time against the run of play. As Mario Kyriacou shepherded a harmless looking through ball back to keeper Tom Gutteridge the Saints stopper inexplicably spilt the ball in front of an astonished  Cadbury striker who finished from an acute angle.

Heather started the second half at a sharpe tempo and it was no surprise when Turville broke down the right flank and his pinpoint cross was flicked in by Dunkley.

The game began to open up as both sides struggled to get a firm grip but on a raid down Heather’s right flank a dangerous ball was played across the box. The danger seemed to have passed as it eluded the Cadbury forwards but the Saints failed to stop the second cross from the left and an advancing Cadbury midfielder arrived to head home from six yards.

Turville had a chance to equalise in the closing stages but some valiant defending from the home defence saw Cadbury hold out for a deserved victory as Heather’s inconsistent form continued.  

The Saints are back at St John’s Park in the League this coming Saturday against Knowle kick off 3pm.