Reserves cement place at top of the table!!

Photo opposite - The "Dynamic Duo" in charge of the reserve team.Left of photo is Allan Merchant who has just celebrated a birthday while on the right is the man who covers all the reports for the reserve team matches , assistant manager Nathan Burrell and what a great team these two make,well done gentlemen.
RIDGEONS RESERVES LEAGUE SOUTH- SATURDAY JANUARY 28th
BRANTHAM RESERVES 1 BRAINTREE RESERVES 0
I will start this report off by apologising to Nathan Burrell, who I mistakenly called Nathan Munson in the last report (which has now been rectified-) so here we go again with another great report from Nathan Burrell. After seeing off Sudbury in mid-week we welcomed the only other team that could match our points tally if they won their three games in hand, Braintree, and with the Gaffers son Arron Hall returning in goal for Braintree it made for an interesting afternoon. We started the game on the front foot taking the game to Braintree and the pace and movement of Ben Sparrow and Adam Thompson early on did cause the Braintree people a few problems.We had a superb chance in the first five minutes when Lee Willcox played a lovely ball over the top to Ben Sparrow who got between the two Braintre centre backs only to be hauled back which resulted in him fluffing his shot, a definate penalty, but somehow the referee thought otherwise. Our next attack and Adam Thompson was found in the box from a long Ben Spencer throw-in and Adam was bundled to the ground.I personally thought this was not as clear cut as the first appeal but the referee, this time, pointed to the spot. Up stepped Ben Green who sent the ball into the corner giving Arron Hall no chance at all. Braintree then started to get into the game and got down our right hand side and their forward sent in a great shot only for Alex Drouet to brilliantly clear off the line. Play was mainly in midfield with both teams failing to take a grip on the game and we also seemed to take our foot off the gas after the opening 20 minutes of the half and this allowed Braintree more possession. They should have levelled when they broke down the left flank and Brantham skipper James Long tugged their striker back about 10 yards outside the box only for the forward to keep on running and then falling over 10 yards inside the box. With the referee blowing his whistle we all thought he was going to caution their striker for simulation, but he amazingly pointed to the spot.Luckily the penalty was sent the wrong side of the post and we remained in the lead. With 5 minutes of the half remaining Ben Spencer curled a great cross and Kev Mann got in front of his marker to power a header against the bar.
So half time and we held a narrow advantage but we knew the second half would be a tight affair, so we asked the boys to put in another huge half to give us the vital 3 points. We had the two wise men in at half time, and Robbie and Skinz made some great points which the boys took on board. The second half was a half of very few chances,and in fact as I write this and look at my note pad ,there was only one of any great note when Ben Spencer headed a corner just wide.As you would expect Braintree had more of the possession but really failed to create any real chances with the back four of Spencer,Long,Mann and Drouet all superb.Special mention to the player that is Kev Mann who at one point, single handed I might add, stopped a Braintree break with 3 attackers against him,and which he came out on top twice. So a huge 3 points which leaves us 12 points clear at the top of the table and on Saturday we again face Braintree for the last of the big double headers. Special mention Aaron Hall, who held his head high and was gracious in defeat and he also had a decent game.
Lastly I would like to wish my old mate and gaffer, Allan Merchant, a happy 39th birthday, ONLY JOKING, the old fella with the beard is 35,so I am looking forward to lining up with him for the Vets on a Sunday.
Brantham team - 1.Ross Welton. 2.Ben Spencer. 3.Alex Drouet. 4.James Long. 5.Kevin Mann. 6.Alex Street. 7.Ben Green (1 goal). 8.Lee Willcox. 9.Ben Sparrow. 10.Adam Thompson. 11-Alex Stocker. subs - James Turner, Ross Cooper and Allan Merchant.
Thanks to Nathan Burrell for the report and at the top end of the report there is a photo of Nathan (just in case I get him mixed up with the other one again!!)and birthday lad Allan----barry felgate--