Meads find visitors' challenge a disappointment

AFC Premier Division - Old Meadonians 2 Old Actonians 1

As a relief from Meads’ low key start to their league campaign this cup encounter with Old Actonians from the elete Southern Amateur league was also expected to be make or break in their recovery of form.

As it was the visitors provided a disappointing challenge, Meads doubled their goals for tally for the season and the fact that one of the goals was scored by striker Ed Glover was a bonus.

The return from long term injury of midfielder Pete Lovell and centre back Brian Hanley who played in front of the back three considerably stiffened the hosts’ resolve and a useful pre-match preparation gave them the momentum to camp in the visitors’ half for the first twenty minutes. Even before Actonians took the lead against the run of play five minutes later Meads had had three half chances, striker Albert Adomah had been thwarted in a ‘one on one’ by the keeper and Lovell’s looping header from fifteen yards had clipped the bar.

The visitor’s lead came from their one source of danger as a wide player on the left crossed and in crowded air space Meads’ Kris Sayers could only get a partial hand to the ball which fell conveniently to be volleyed home. Just before halftime Meads’ skipper Jack Costello cut in from the left and dipped the ball into the far corner for a deserved equaliser.

The second half saw the hosts once more applying pressure and Actonians wilting as they began to collect bookings. Twenty minutes in Adomah was clattered in the area but Dan Salanson’s spot kick was well saved. With just eight minutes remaining and extra time looming Meads broke on the right and Glover was on hand to rifle the cross in from the edge of the box and secure a place in the third round.

Team: Sayers, Salanson, Williamson, Butler, Rhone, Lovell, Costello, Hanley, Cope, (Queansborough), Adomah, Glover.

David Stanners

November 2, 2005