The best crowd of the season turned up for this match. They've turned up to watch what they hope is a good game of football between two of the top five in the division and hopefully from our point of view if they see a good game will come back for more. Sadly the match referee took centre stage and spoiled the first half, there was too much stop and start and he dismissed Craig Duggan to the stand because Craig reacted when yet another decision went against us. On the basis that Leon Cosker made a number of saves compared to Chris Curtis, Goytre probably deserved their win but the referee didn't have the best of games and missed a lot.

Karl Lewis made the first foray into the Goytre box in the early minutes but his cross was too long. Goytre responded with a free kick in the centre circle which Ian Turner cleared. On 7 minutes Mark Jones picked up the ball thirty yards from goal, beat his man and made ground. Everyone in the ground bar the referee saw him being pulled back so instead of a booking and a free kick they were allowed to play on. A Goytre free kick was well held by Leon Cosker and he found Scott McCoubrey in space but he lost control of the ball and the chance to set something up had gone. On 17 minutes a quick Goytre break caught us out but Leon Cosker made a fine save off Steve Conaty, the ball was kept in our area but no-one could create space for a shot, eventually the ball went for a corner which we cleared. Yet another Goytre free kick was punched clear by Leon but straight to Johnny Walkley whose shot went for a corner. On 20 minutes a Goytre free kick was cleared to Carl Payne who made ground but with Scott McCoubrey unmarked outside him he carried the ball too far and was tackled. A corner for us on 22 minutes nearly led to Goytre taking the lead, Chris Curtis just got a touch to the corner and it was cleared downfield but Leon made a save turning the ball behind for a Goytre corner. Carl Payne knocked the ball wide to Adam Carpenter but his cross went behind for a goal kick from the goal kick Mark Jones found Scott McCoubrey in the area, he was crowded out but found Carl Payne wide right, his cross was too long but Adam Carpenter picked it up and crossed with Goytre conceding a corner.

We came out for the second half and for some time penned Goytre back we won a corner on 50 minutes which was cleared but Carl Payne won us a second corner. The ball went across the six yard box with no-one getting a touch. Another corner on 53 minutes was headed goalwards by Karl Lewis but hit a defender and went out for yet another corner. On 65 minutes we still looked for the breakthrough and Scott McCoubrey turned and shot but had no power in it. Michael Waters went on a run beating 4 players and winning a corner and then on 72 minutes Goytre played a ball through the middle of the back four, Cosker saved the initial shot but was powerless to do anything with the follow up. This was a bitter pill to swallow after playing so well to this point in the second half. Leon Cosker then made another diving save to keep us in the game. From a Lido free kick 25 yards out, Goytre cleared and attacked but from a good position shot wide. We went for broke in the last 10 minutes and played three at the back and Michael Waters playing a more forward role crossed only for it to be headed out to Carl Payne just outside the area. Carl shot first time but over the crossbar with one of the few clear-cut chances we created. Mika Chunuonsee, Sam Wade and Michael Waters combined in a flowing move and Michael's cross beat everyone when it just needed a touch to level the scores. Again with minutes to go a free kick was played in and no-one got a touch on it. With the last kick of the game Robbie Walters made the game safe with a move similar to the first goal, we kicked off and the final whistle blew.

Lido side: 
GK: Leon Cosker 
DEF: Ian Turner, Michael Waters, Rhys Williams, Shaun Morgan.
MID: Karl Lewis, Carl Payne, Mika Chunuonsee, Adam Carpenter. 
FOR: Mark Jones, Scott McCoubrey.

Subs: 
12 Ian Jones for Scott McCoubrey 70
14 Daniel Lancey for Adam Carpenter 59
15 Sam Wade for Karl Payne 80
16 Corey Thomas
GK Rory McCreesh

Lido man of the match: Karl Lewis.

Bookings Mika Chunuonsee 20 Karl Lewis 67

Att: 546

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Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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