Despite the gulf between the teams in the league table, the phrase “potential banana skin” was used to describe this tie more than once before push-back, and so it would transpire.

Wotton totally dominated the first half, with shots on target in open play from the front 7 (Ben Butter, Dan Jones, Sam Willcox, Greg Willcox, Hayden Brewer, Callum Niddrie, Chris Price) well into double figures and four or five short corner opportunities, but all of which were nullified by the evidently capable Lansdown goalkeeper. As a result, frustration seemed to set in far too prematurely and the good, passing hockey that proved fruitful in the first 20 minutes disintegrated into dribbling onto flat sticks towards the end of the half, but having had most success in the second period in their previous 4 league matches, the men in blue remained confident of finding the goal that would open the floodgates.

Unfortunately, the rest of the match was much more evenly balanced, with Wotton still having the majority of the possession but Lansdown
creating chances of their own on the break, making work for the defensive line (Kieran Latimer, Jonny Glover, James Bull, John Shovelton, Steven Midex, Andy Stockley) and arguably going closest with an effort that somehow beat the on-rushing Charlie Thomas at the top of his D, only to be chased down on the line by Shovelton.

The visiting side will rue a plethora of misplaced passes in the final third and a lack of clinical finishing in the D, but after 5 games they remain unbeaten and with the tightest defence in the GoCrea8 league (cue a drubbing next weekend).

MoM – John Shovelton

DoD – Callum Niddrie

Report by John Shovelton