25/3/2008

Sport

Smart tactics get it Wright on the Mark

by Chris Harris

FLEET Town came away with the local bragging rights after denting top of the table Farnborough’s title hopes with a convincing 3-0 victory on Easter Monday.

On a dreadful playing surface at Calthorpe Park it was Andy Sinton’s men who dealt with the conditions as they comprehensively out-played their more illustrious counterparts, and were good value for their 3-0 winning margin.

They played the conditions perfectly, piling forward quickly when they got the ball with some direct football, and coupled with some no nonsense defending at the back, deserved to win the game. Indeed, they played some nice football in the second period at times, in the comfort zone having lead 2-0 at the break, and perhaps could have won by more.

It was a sweet victory for Fleet, gaining revenge for their Boxing Day thrashing at Cherrywood Road, and has thrown them right back into contention at the top of the BGB Southern 1 South & West.

Boro still lead the way, but Fleet have closed the gap to just six points thanks to goals from debutant Ben Wright, Nathan Smart and Mark Anderson, and Sinton was delighted with his side’s effective display.

“I’m absolutely delighted with every single one of my players,” he said. “Farnborough are a good side, with players that can hurt you, but I think we had a bit of a point to prove.

“Not just because of how they beat us at their place, but over the last month or so we haven’t been anywhere near our best. It was a challenge to play a side top of the league, but we have put ourselves back in the melting pot.

“My squad is getting very strong now, at the right time. I can’t speak highly enough of my players today and the best side won quite comfortably. Any one of the 800 supporters here could see that.

“People say we are a smaller club, and we don’t pay players as much money, but that doesn’t always guarantee you performances and I think that was clear today.”

Boro for their part simply never performed. For sure, the pitch was not suited to their passing game, but it can be of little excuse as in fact, in the second half, Fleet were able to knock the ball around with plenty of composure. Boro never looked like threatening Fleet’s overall dominance, and were their own worst enemies with some poor defending and goalkeeping to blame for all three goals.

Too often the backline allowed the ball to bounce around on the tricky surface instead of taking a leaf out of Fleet’s book and clearing their lines quickly and effectively and building from there. Up front, Marcus Richardson and Michael Bartley were largely ineffective, albeit feeding off scraps for much of the match, and even in-form Darren Wheeler could make little inroads past a committed Fleet defence after a bright first half.

Taking just one point from the Easter weekend double has slightly loosened their hold on the league’s top spot. With just five games left to play they are fortunate that fellow promotion rivals Didcot Town have suffered a similar fate, losing 3-1 to Abingdon United on Monday.

After the game boss Andy Clement was hugely disappointed with his side’s abject display, and conceded Boro had been second best in every department.

“We were lacklustre to say the least,” he said. “We got out-fought and out-battled for the whole 90 minutes. The conditions didn’t help but that’s no excuse – we just didn’t compete right across the park.

“The defending was inexcusable. We were poor in that respect on Saturday and we were worse still today.

“But from an attacking sense we didn’t really trouble their keeper in the game and I can’t recall a spell where we dominated the game. We have scored goals all season, but that never looked like happening today.

“Maybe it was a lack of bottle, maybe they are feeling the pressure of being up at the top, but it was a local derby and they let themselves down. We knew Fleet would have a point to prove and we didn’t even turn up. It was poor and unacceptable.”

Sinton handed a debut to Wright up front with Anderson in place of the injured Phil John in his only change to the side that beat Taunton Town on Saturday, while Clement made two changes to the team that were held at Uxbridge. Michael Barima returned in place of Nic Ciardini and Rob Marshall replaced Ryan Hill at right back.

Right from the outset Fleet looked like the stronger side, and they made the perfect start after just three minutes.

Wright picked up the ball 25 yards from goal and as Dave Woozley dived in with a tackle he skipped neatly by him. Clean through he picked his spot and curled an effort along the ground and in off the post, beating a slack effort from Lyall Beazley in the Boro goal.

Boro were stunned by the start and although the game settled down, they struggled to impose themselves on the game. Only Wheeler on the left seemed likely to expose Fleet’s back four, led in uncompromising fashion by skipper Steve Noakes.

It was Wheeler who created his side’s best chance of the game, whipping in a corner which Adam Doyle headed goalwards, but Boro’s Richardson inexplicably cleared the ball trying to hook it in.

It was Fleet who were creating the clearer cut openings, and only a brilliant last-ditch tackle by Ian Oliver prevented Wright from scoring again. In-form winger James Field then cut inside past Marshall but shot straight at Beazley. Boro refused to heed those warnings, and after 26 minutes some catastrophic defending let Fleet in again for a second. Beazley and Oliver hesitated over Jack Smith’s deep cross and as neither took charge Nathan Smart seized the initiative and nipped in between them to loop a header into the back of the net.

Wright was leading Woozley on a merry dance and the Boro centre-back was booked for a clumsy tackle on the stroke of half time as the youngster skipped by him again. As the whistle blew Fleet deservedly led and they never let it slip after the second half.

The home side started brightly again, and ex-Boro midfielder Simeon Howell, who enjoyed an excellent game, came close with a swerving drive over the bar.

Boro offered nothing going forward and Fleet continued to grow in confidence, playing some nice football at times in spite of the poor surface. With Richardson replaced by Ciardini on the hour mark, Boro lost their main target man up front, and the visitors attacks were wiped out almost before they began with Bartley struggling to impose himself.

Fleet were totally dominant in midfield, and with Phil John snuffing out the threat of Wheeler after replacing Will Salmon at the break, they looked comfortable.

So it was no surprise that with 15 minutes to go they bagged their third of the afternoon. The ball bounced around in the Boro box before Wright took control, spun on the ball and shot straight at Beazley. The Boro stopper should have held the effort but he spilt it and Anderson was the grateful beneficiary, forcing the ball home and sealing a memorable win for Sinton’s men.

The games outstanding player was certainly Wright, so impressive having signed for Fleet just the day before. Sinton had no hesitation about throwing him in at the deep end in such a big game, and the youngster responded with a man-of-the-match display.

Sinton said: “I have chased Ben for a couple of years now, so it’s good to finally get him. Because of my current striker situation with Adam Wallace suspended, Ricky Miller suspended, Jermaine Hamilton just out of hospital and Eddie Smith recovering from an operation, I knew we would need a bit more.

“I have seen Ben play many a time and he has great feet. Today he was a constant threat and wasn’t fazed by the big game. He is only a young lad at 19, but he did ever so well and obviously got man-of-the-match as well. But all the players deserve credit for a great display right through the team.”

Fleet’s win takes them up to second place, six points behind Boro at the top. Didcot’s slip up at home to Abingdon means they drop down to fourth place, eight points adrift with a game in hand. Oxford City have now jumped up to third spot after beating Uxbridge 2-1, and they too have a game in hand on Boro and Fleet, so the title race looks set to go down to the wire with four teams still in with a shout of glory. Boro are firmly in the driving seat, and have it all to lose, but on Monday’s showing, Fleet are over their poor form and won’t give up on the race without a fight.

Fleet: Paul Smith 7, Salmon 5 (John 7), Jack Smith 7, Noakes 8 (Hemmings), Paterson 7, Field 6, Howell 8, Damien Smith 8, Smart 6, Anderson 7 Campbell (6), WRIGHT 8.

Boro: Beazley 4, Marshall 5, Oliver 6, Woozley 5, Evans 6, Rumbold 5, Barima 6 (Wise 5), Doyle 6, Richardson 5 (Ciardini 5), Bartley 5, Wheeler 7.

Attendance: 812

First printed in: Aldershot News and Mail