Met Police (A)

[Red army]

United returned from Imber Court with a rare 3 points, its not been a happy hunting ground in recent seasons.

United dominated possession for the majority of the half, Met side sitting deep and soaking up pressure comfortably but always looked a threat when counter attacking. For all of Uniteds dominance of the ball there was very little to show in the way of chances. Corners looked our most likely way of scoring a goal. Kamaron English had plenty of the ball on the left but final ball was easily cleared when crossing. Can’t tenner a shot on target for the visitors best chance falling to Harry Grant firing his shot into the ground and easily gathered by the keeper. Few corners had the Met keeper under pressure but dealt with without to many concerns. Met had 2/3 chances of their own when breaking out from defensive structure. Free kick fired over, Forster making a decent stop to his right. Skipper Duffy blocking a certain goal. Then just on half time a deep cross not dealt with nodded home at the back post when unmarked. Ht 1-0

Met police started well second half creating the first 2 chances of the half. Forster saving at the feet of an attacker another half chance dragged wide. United still having plenty of the ball but looking rather toothless in the final third, English still probing down the left but once again his efforts come to nothing. Harry Grant deep corner found Calum Duffy heading back across goal, Roger’s on hand to head home from close range, United went in search of the winner, and looked the most likely. Hinds pass into the path of Dembele 10 yds out blazed high and wide. United in front with 83minutes gone, long pass into Matthews holding off the defender flicks into the path of Jordi Ebanda, running across goal level with the corner of the 6yd box, left footed rifled into the top corner. Met pushed forwards as time running out shot from the edge of the box turned away from the United stopper. Hinds ball over the top fires his effort straight at the keeper at the near post. Ft 1-2

MoM Jude Mason few blocks late on and very assured for the whole game.

Well a rare away win this season but wasn’t a great game to watch. Kept possession well and never forced into long balls, but it was slow and predictable for large parts.Think we managed 3/4 shots on target for the whole game. Amos a miss in midfield with his energy. Keep adding 3 points and maybe teams above will stumble as the pressure builds towards the end of the season.

COYH

[PSG55]

Was a welcome sight to see the final result on this one. As you rightly point out, not been a happy hunting ground for us. I was over last Christmas when we played there and got beaten. That said, I do like Imber Court - tidy ground, good facilities and they do a good pint of Guinness.

Put us a bit closer to Portchester but they went and won at Binfield last night, so we're back to a 9pt gap again. We do have the luxury of a game in hand, but that game is against Westfield if I'm not mistaken?

Certainly don't wish to be a prophet of doom, but for me I just don't see us making the playoffs now. 8 games to play and we have a tough run-in. Portchester still have some tricky fixtures to fulfil too, but given we have Westfield, Moneyfields and Hanworth, I think ours is tougher. I'm sure Jamie will have one eye on next season already anyway.

Telling thing for me is that Sam Ashton is STILL our top scorer and he's been injured for months. Without a clinical finisher (last time we went up we had Lee Barney, Connor Toomey and Duncan Culley all in the same squad that season), I fear we'll find the going tough.