Brantham Reserves still in contention after 2-0 win

RIDGEONS RESERVES SOUTH - TUESDAY MARCH 29th BRANTHAM RESERVES 2 WIVENHOE RESERVES TOWN 0 After the dismal defeat last week against Stanway myself (writes Nathan Burrell) and Merch tried all mind games to get the boys back at it and get back to winning ways. This also meant upsetting ""I'M THE KIT MAN"" Danny Allen who supplied us with the red and black kit for this home game. Right from the off we seemed more relaxed and up for the fight (not literally I might add!!) but Wivenhoe themselves looked a decent outfit so we knew we had to be on our metal. We were looking dangerous down the left with Alex Drouet and Chris French combining well and this combination gave us the first real chance of the half when Frenchy put over a cracking cross which Ben Green met and planted his header just wide. We again attacked down our left with Frenchy putting in yet another great cross for Shaun Webb whose header was bundled away for a corner. With Wivenhoe playing just the one up front and five in midfield it meant that Shaun Webb and Alex Street were getting through plenty of work and we were just failing to supply that final ball. The final ten minutesof the half saw us have two glorious chances to take the lead. Firstly, some lovely one touch football found Shaun Webb in the box and his first time lay-off found Adam Thompson whose shot was heading into the net only for the Wivenhoe keeper to pull off a fantastic save. Minutes later it was Shaun Webb who again found himself free at the far post after a lovely Danny Garrad cross and Shaun's first time shot was again well saved by the keeper. So half time and our good football failed to get that all important first goal. We stressed to the boys not to panic and to move the football about and we would create chances.The first half of the second half fell to skipper James Long when, from a corner the ball, was bouncing about in the box and Longy fired just over the bar. We eventually made the breakthrough when Alex Street played in Ben Green down our right. Ben put in a fantastic cross which was firmly headed home by Adam Thompson at the far post to give us the lead. This seemed to settle us down and we were playing our best football of the game. I,however, mst make comment to the worst shot probably ever seen at the Leisure Centre when our goal scoring hero, Adam Thompson, fired in a woeful shot on the right hand side of the box with the ball finally going out for a throw 25 yards away from the half line!! We then made the game safe with an absolute beauty and probably goal of the season when Alex Street picked up a poor clearance from 30 yards out and pinged a glorious shot into the top corner, giving the Wivenhoe keeper no chance at all. In the closing stages it was all Brantham and Shaun Webb had another shot saved and Chris French should have scored with his header from 10 yards out but again credit to the keeper who made another good save. So an important win and with Braintree and Heybridge drawing midweek the title could well go dow to the last couple of games, and I am sure we will all be up for it!! Brantham - 1. Ross Welton. 2. Scott Cooke.3.Alex Drouet. 4.James Long. 5.Ben Spencer. 6.Shaun Webb. 7. Bren Green. 8. Alex Street ( 1 goal). 9.Danny Garrad. 10. Adam Thompson (1 goal). 11.Chris French. subs- James Turner, Kev Mann, Sean Gunn and Allan Merchant. (Thanks to Nathan for a good report, and I was at the game and I must say that the goal that Alex Street scored would not have looked out of place in a football league game, it was that good a strike---barry felgate)