In the fourth minute Chris Piper fed Liam but his shot from the right side of goal went wide.  After 11 minutes Liam crossed for Ian Jones and he hit the post with his shot.  A minute later YMCA had a corner which we were unable to clear and they had three chances to score before they finally shot over the bar from 6 yards.  We took the lead after 14 minutes when Chris Piper was fouled, Steve Parry slipped a quick free kick to Liam whose cross took out the keeper allowing the unmarked Chris Piper time to side foot into the empty net.  YMCA continued to press forward on a difficult pitch and their number 9 fired in a shot from the edge of the area but luckily straight at Brian in goal.

On 34 minutes another YM corner caused us problems and they again had several bites at it before they again shot wide.  Brian then made a couple of outstanding saves to protect our lead before on 36 minutes they equalised. Their 7 Aaron Stewart played a 1-2 at pace and fired home from the edge of the box giving Brian no chance.  It was no more than they deserved and minutes later Brian was again in top form making a save. 

Just before half time from a Steve Parry throw Ian Jones fed Liam McCreesh, his shot was saved by the keeper at the expense of a corner. It was taken by Steve who fed Phil Holmes, he passed to Chris Piper in a good position but his shot went over the bar.

We managed the YM better in the early stages of the second half but the small bumpy pitch was making control and good football difficult. It certainly didn't help our passing game, YM who are used to the pitch were just lumping the ball forward as often as they could. On 65 minutes Phil Holmes played the ball forward, Chris Latham managed to head the ball just before the keeper got to it but it didn't have enough pace to cross the line before it was cleared. Carl Edwards who had come on as a sub for Ian Jones had a chance but shot at the keeper then a few minutes later he won the ball and shot but a defender managed to block it.

On 75 minutes we had our best chance for some time, Liam headed on to Greg Hurley who avoided the offside trap. He shot from outside the box, cleared the keeper but his shot drifted wide.
In the latter stages neither side looked likely to break the deadlock and while it was two points dropped we won't play on a surface like this again this season (I hope) as it was a definite leveller.

Lido side
Brian Thomas  Craig Jones  Steve Parry  Karl Roberts  Phil Holmes  Craig Martin  Liam McCreesh  Chris Latham Ian Jones  Chris Piper  Greg Hurley

Subs  Paul Evans for Chris Piper  89
         Matt Lavis for Chris Latham 70
         Carl Edwards for Ian Jones 60

Yellow Cards  Chris Piper  31  Carl Edwards 78 and Liam McCreesh 89   

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