Saturday 15th March 2008
Whitegrove Predators 1 v 0 Winnersh Rangers Eagles
A return to winning ways for the Predators but a very bright, enthusiastic Winnersh Rangers team made it very difficult for them. The first half was very even with both defences working well and keeping the strikers very quiet. In particular the Winnersh skipper at centre back had a very commanding game. The Predators really struggled to create chances thanks to poor movement and passing and very poor crosses, they did not trouble the Winnersh keeper at all. The Winnersh players overall looked brighter and passed better and created the only real goalscoring opportunity of the half with a good break through the inside right channel and a well struck shot that brought a good save from Jordan. Otherwise the Predators defence did their job well and restricted Winnersh to half chances and long-range shots that did not trouble Jordan. It was not surprising really that there was no score at half time.
In the second half the Predators were much improved. They passed the ball better and had a bit more urgency in their play. Their first real chance of the match came in the seventh minute when Jaimie put over a great corner that found Michael unchallenged inside the six yard box but in stooping to head the ball he got under it too much and headed over the bar. Both James and Alex were seeing more of the ball down the flanks but their crosses into the box were generally too close to the goalkeeper who was having a solid game and gathered them well. The breakthrough eventually came midway through the half when the Predators were awarded a free kick just outside the left corner of the penalty area. Jaimie hit a great ball in and Jon, virtually unchallenged, headed the ball wide of the keeper just inside the left hand post, a very well taken goal. The goal brought more urgency into the match from both sides. Winnersh raised their game again in search of an equaliser but generally the Predators defence coped well with everything that came their way although there were one or two moments of panic with half chances falling to Winnersh players who were unable to take them. The nearest that Winnersh got to a goal was when Jordan, unusually, fumbled a relatively straightforward catch and under pressure could not gather the ball. The ball was knocked past him and it looked like Winnersh must score but Sam F did ever so well to get back and clear the danger. The final chance of the game fell to the Predators just four minutes from time when Alex set off down the right wing, hugging the touchline. He beat first one opposition player to the ball, then another before seemingly losing out to the Winnersh skipper. But Alex did not give up and with great tenacity won the ball back near the goal line. He advanced on goal and spotting Michael unmarked in front of goal squared the ball to him. It seemed that Michael must score but he screwed his shot just wide of the far post. The match drew to a close with no further chances at either end. The Predators rode their luck in this one to some extent but it is also difficult to understand, given this performance, why Winnersh are so low in the league table. They have given the Predators two very good games this season.
Team: Jordan Donovan, Amarit Pooni, Sam Wilson, Jonathan Nattriss, Liam Drablow (C), James Hamilton, Ryan May, Jaimie Howe, Alex Goddard, David Carson, Michael Shields, Sam Forsyth, Oliver Wickens
Goal scorer: Jonathan Nattriss.