Our best chance of the first half saw Sam Wade hit the post with a free kick but for much of the second half our performance was greatly improved.

Ian Jones replaced Karl Lewis at the interval and Ton struggled for much of the half to deal with us. Following our equaliser I felt it was a matter of time before we'd score the winner, Ton were on the ropes and Kevin Richards their manager was getting more and more rattled, then out of the blue they scored and despite our best efforts we failed to land a second equaliser. From the kick off we were awarded a free kick but Mike Waters lost possession and Ton were awarded a free kick which they hit long. It was headed on and Leon Cosker made a diving save to his left from an overhead shot. We had another free kick for a foul on Damon Thomas, John Felton headed David Kingdom's free kick straight at the keeper.

After 8 minutes a Ton attack was cleared by David Kingdom to Corey Thomas but he lost the ball and Ton made ground through the middle, Leon again saving the shot turning the ball away for a corner. Poor communication by our players resulted in three of them going for the same ball and losing out. Luckily the through ball that was played was over hit and went through to Leon in goal. I felt we were overplaying in midfield on a heavy surface with no-one wanting to knock the ball forward, Ton were harry us and picking up the loose ball. After 20 minutes Karl Lewis and Ian Turner combined on the left, Ian crossed the ball in and the keeper just held the ball ahead of Corey Thomas. Again Ian and Karl combined and fed Corey just outside the area but he had gone too soon and was offside. We went behind after 26 minutes when Ton attacked down the left and from a very acute angle their 9 Chris Jones somehow shot between Leon and the near post for an unlikely goal. We were awarded a free kick taken by David Kingdom it was headed out to Ian Turner who tried his luck from 30 yards but his shot went over the bar. Mike Waters went through the middle but he was crowded out on the edge of the area and Ton cleared the danger. 5 minutes before the interval Leon knocked a long ball forward to Sam Wade who fed Karl Lewis, Karl shot from just outside the box and the keeper managed to turn it over for a corner. 

A minute before the break Karl Lewis cut in from the left and went down just outside the area, a free kick was awarded and Sam Wade hit the right hand post, the ball was played back in but Mike Waters hit his shot wide. Ian Jones replaced Karl Lewis at the interval and we played with three up front. The first major action of the half was when Leon miskicked when clearing, he redeemed himself however by making two superb saves to deny the home forwards. Ian Turner was cool under pressure and played the ball out to Ian Jones, he played a one-two with Mike Waters and shot from just inside the area, the keeper did well to get down to his right to turn the ball away for a corner. Just before the hour we were awarded a free kick 35 yards out, it was played in by Mike Waters to Ian Jones whose shot was again turned away for a corner. Corey Thomas took the corner which found Sam Wade but his goalbound shot was blocked and cleared. Ian Jones then found Mike Waters down the line and his cross in fell to Ian but his first time shot went over the bar.

Scott McCourbrey had replaced John Felton and he equalised after 67 minutes. Damon Thomas had played the ball wide to Mike Waters and his cross was cleared by a mixture of the keeper and a defender. The ball went to Scott just inside their area and he cut inside beat a couple of players and shot just inside the near post. 5 minutes later Sam Wade found Scott but he shot just wide. At this point it was almost constant Lido attacking and both Sam Wade and Mike Waters were denied by the keeper. With a quarter of an hour to go Ton relieved the pressure and had a free kick 40 yards out which Ian Turner cleared for a corner. Leon held the corner and threw out to Mike Waters who found Sam Wade who in turn found Scott McCourbrey but Scott's shot went wide of the far post. Then with 10 minutes to go and out of the blue Ton scored. A run through the middle found Alyn Jones who managed to lift the ball over Leon and into the net. With 7 minutes to go Leon knocked a long ball forward to Scott in a good position but under pressure he lost his footing and the chance was lost. Dan Williams then lost the ball and their sub Ryan Buckman shot from just inside the box, Leon tipping the shot over for a corner. 

Following the Ton goal the game changed, they were now in control, their confidence was high and we couldn't get much ball for long periods. It was no surprise they got a third in the 93 minute when Ryan Buckman tapped in following a right wing cross. There was still time for Scott McCourbrey to force the home keeper into yet another save off a close range header.

Lido side:
L Cosker: D Kingdom: I Turner: D Williams: C Evans: K Lewis: C Thomas: S Wade: J Felton: D Thomas: M Waters.

 Subs
12 Ian Jones for Karl Lewis 46
14 Tomos Wellington for Damon Thomas 83
15 Scott McCourbrey for John Felton 56
16 Rory McCreesh
17 Steve Crabbe

One booking Ian Turner 90

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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