Cricklade Town 7 Tytherington Rocks 4

On a good wet surface suited to attacking football the spectators were not disappointed with this 11 goal thriller that had everything that is good and bad about the game.

Until last April 2010 Cricklade had only managed one point out of 27 against their opponents Tytherington Rocks, on August the 14th Cricklade got over their Hellenic bogey team with a 7-4 win that should have been a lot easier that the way the game twisted and turned.

By 30 minutes Cricklade should have been out of site, with a good pressing game Tytherington were put under pressure from the start, the inevitable opener came after only 6 minutes, with a near post corner from the right Povey found Winchcombe with the flick on to Bowen’s head, with the header block it was left to Reason to be quickest of the mark to scramble the ball in from 5 yards, the ball only just crossed the line to the dismay of the Tytherington team, who felt the ball had not crossed the line.

Further referees whistle was set to disappoint Tytherington again on 17 minutes as he blew for a penalty, as Povey again was pivotal by turning two defenders on the left wing and playing Reason through into the box, and a rash challenge from Keslake resulted in the spot kick that was converted confidently into the top right corner by Moulden.

Cricklade were attacking at will with Mcgunigall and Povey causing problems down both flanks it only looked a matter of time before the lead was extended, but chances not being taken look to have cost Cricklade when a bal in from the left was not dealt with, Goodey in the Cricklade goal called and looked to have everything under control until Bowen tried to clear and only diverted the ball out of Goodey’s Hands to the feet of Potts who smashed the ball past Davies on the line.

Cricklade now looked on the back foot as Tytherington look dangerous, and started to create a couple of openings, then on 35 minutes a long ball over the top caught the Cricklade defence out, with Moulden playing Irwin onside Goodey made the decision to come out, as Irwin clashed with Goodey the ball landed on the 6 yard line with a chase between Moulden and the winner Irwin as he tapped into an empty net, it was 2-2 and Tytherington looking the stronger side.

On 44 minutes a defensive blunder from Hughes at the back for Tytherington gave Cricklade the lead again, a high ball over the top should have been cleared, but trying to keep possession cost Tytherington as Mcgunigall capitalised on the bad back pass and slide the ball under the advancing rose.

On the stroke of halftime Cricklade got their 2 goal cushion back as Mcgunigal played Blankley in, with a good cross Reason was able to bring the ball down and dispatch the ball into the right hand side of the net.

H/T 4-2

After the break Tytherington came out strong and looked the better of the two sides in the opening exchanges, and when Povey lost the ball in midfield Tytherington played Potts through as Cricklade looked to play offside, and with typical fashion he finished to reduce the deficit on 48 minutes.

Tytherington should have been level on 49 minutes when Potts again beat the Cricklade offside trap, only to watch as Davies cleared of the line after the ball was placed past Goodey, but Tytherington would not have to wait to long to be on level terms again. on 55 minutes Davies with a rash challenge on the touchline that should have seen yellow, Tytherington knocked the free kick to the far post for Totterdell to finish with his head off the post.

With the score a 4-4 Cricklade started to play again, with Povey causing problems down the left he cross into Winchcombe who could have shot be delayed and was pushed wide, but as her turned Cave he clipped the ball to the far post only to watch the ball bounce off the inside of the upright, but this was the signs of what was about to come.

On 62 minutes a good interception by Green Cricklade broke quickly, Green released the tiring Mcgunigall who skipped past two before pulling the ball back from the by-line into Povey’s path; the finish was clinical as Cricklade took the lead for the 3rd time.

This time their was not come back by Tytherington as Cricklade piles on the pressure, as Winchcombe played that ball through for Maximen who replaced McGunigall, Maximen beat 3 before turning inside to unleash a shot into the far corner on 70 minutes, with 20 minutes left Lloyd replaced Price and Gambling came on for Winchcombe.

The final nail cam on 85 minutes as Cricklade attacked the ball fell at the edge of the box to reason, who turned a shot striking the far post, with Povey the quickest to the ball, the chance looked lost as he was forced by Rose away from goal, but Rose was left stranded as Povey cheekily back heeled the ball past the dismayed Rose.

In the closing minutes the game was marred with a couple of incidents that resulted in two yellow cards for Blankley, in a game where not less than 9 Yellows were dished out.

7-4 a deserved result for the homes side, in a game where it look like on 2 occasions they had thrown it away, credit to both sides in a game that was more pleasing to the spectator than either back four.

F/T 7-4