Ton won a free kick 40 yards out but it was overhit and Brendan Cropley gathered safely.  We responded with Gavin Jones making 50 yards down the right touchline before crossing to the far post, Carl Payne in a good position headed it to Nathan White but his shot was blocked inside the six yard box.  Carl Payne then received the ball wide right, cut inside and shot across the keeper who managed to turn it behind for a corner.  

In what was turning out to be an open game with both sides attacking it was then Ton's turn and a good through ball by Alyn Jones caught us out in the back but Jonathan Hood cut out the goalbound shot 4 yards from the line.  Ton then broke up a Lido attack and Jonathan Hood was adjudged to have fouled the forward, again Ton failed to benefit from the free kick.  On 13 minutes we kept possession well and strung together a number of passes and gained a corner which Carl Evans headed wide.  After 17 minutes Nathan White was fouled in the area but kept his feet and found Ryan Frankcom but his shot was blocked.  Perhaps we'd have been better off without the advantage!  Ton then attacked and won a corner which Carl Evans again headed clear.

After 24 minutes Ryan Frankcom was injured and had to leave the field, young James McEvoy took his place.  Carl Payne and Nathan White were combining well and were proving a handful for the Ton defence.  We took the lead on 31 minutes following good approach work by Daniel Lancey he slipped the ball to Sam McCoy who was on the edge of the area.  Sam took it forward a couple of paces and although a left footer he 'shinned' the ball with his right foot over the keeper who had come out of his goal and the ball nestled in the back of the net.

We continued to attack and Carl Payne found James McEvoy whose cross was turned behind for another corner.  We weren't taking advantage of the corners as a number of crosses went straight out of play for goal kicks.  In the space of thirty seconds you could see the difference in the keeper's confidence, Brendan Cropley cut out a through ball gathering it safely, Richard Jeffries for Ton fumbled a cross but re-gathered before any harm could be done by us.  On 40 minutes we went two up when the ball was played into the box for Nathan White, the Ton defence again tried to foul him but he kept going and while they hesitated he netted from about a yard out on an acute angle.  Dreams of a two nil interval lead were dashed however when we failed to clear our lines, Brendan Cropley made an excellent one handed save but the ball broke to a Ton player, his shot was blocked and this time it fell to Jordan Branch who netted for his second goal of the season.  For the record, Jordan trialled with us in pre-season.

We started the second half positively and Nathan White was crowded out in the area, Luke Borrelli who had come on at half time for Gavin Jones combined well with James McEvoy to keep us on the attack.  On 50 minutes, Luke, James and Carl Payne combined well down the right for Luke to cut in and try a shot which the Ton defence blocked.  Ton were awarded a free kick in the centre circle which Carl Evans headed clear Ton's 3 (Phil Clarke) shot high and wide from outside the box.  On the hour, in a repeat, a Ton free kick was headed out by Carl Evans and Ton won a throw by the corner flag.  They crossed the ball into the six yard box and Andrew Hughes somehow headed the ball wide.

We needed the comfort of a third goal as Ton were now putting us under extreme pressure but so far we were holding out.  Carl Evans headed clear yet another Ton free kick and from the resultant cross we won a goal kick.  In what was now a rare Lido attack Luke Borrelli cut inside but shot wide.  Ton again pushed forward and Phil Clarke again had space in the box but his shot lacked power and went straight to Brendan Cropley.  On 71 minutes Brendan again distinguished himself by punching clear a Ton free kick and then cutting out the resultant cross.  

Ton made a couple of substitutions on 74 minutes and went with three at the back.  Two minutes later we caught them and scored our third, Chris Pridham won the ball in midfield and played it wide to Carl Payne, Carl made ground down the right went around the defender and squared the ball for Nathan White to hit a right foot shot past the keeper from 15 yards.  On 79 minutes following a Lido free kick James McEvoy tried his luck from the edge of the box but dragged his shot just wide.  Brendan Cropley again did well coming out to dive at a Ton player's feet and it was now looking more comfortable for us. Laurent Foderie went on with 9 minutes to go replacing Daniel Lancey and he combined with Nathan White on the edge of the area but once again the Ton defence crowded us out.  

The game ended with Ton being awarded a series of free kicks but we cleared them and in the last action Carl Evans headed the ball out to Laurent Foderie who was making ground down the right, as he reached half way the full time whistle went for an encouraging win.

Lido side:
Brendan Cropley,  Corey Thomas,  Sam McCoy,  Carl Evans,  Jonathan Hood,  Gavin Jones,  Ryan Frankcom,  Chris Pridham,  Carl Payne,  Nathan White, Daniel Lancey.

Subs:
12 Laurent Foderie for Daniel Lancey 81
14 Luke Borrelli for Gavin Jones 46
15 James McEvoy for Ryan Frankcom 24
16 Shaun Galsworthy
17 Mike Lewis

Goals: Sam McCoy 31,  Nathan White 40 and 76.

Match Report by Peter Reynolds

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