Match Report

Goals scored
Martin Bell

Half time score
Landsdowne Rangers 1 : 0 Hockley British Legion

Man of the match
Martin Bell

Half an hour gone and comfortably leading the game by one goal to nil, Landsdowne suffered the misfortune of losing two players inside a minute. The squad already depleted with injuries only had one substitute and were reduced to ten men. It was to prove the turning point of the game as they eventually lost the match.

Landsdowne though started brightly and inside 5 minutes Nathan Duck raced clear to score.

However, the referee disallowed the goal for off-side despite the fact that Tony Bush was not interfering with play.

On 20 minutes Landsdowne finally took a deserved lead when the Hockley keeper raced out to clear and instead found Martin Bell who cleverly lofted the ball over his head and into the empty goal for his first goal of the season.

10 minutes later and Landsdowne were reduced to ten men, however they held out until half time and were still leading at this point by one goal to nil.

Infact it wasn't until 70 minutes had passed that Hockley equalised, although once again the referee missed a clear decision when Pete Smart was fouled in the area just before the Hockley forward slotted the ball home.

A couple of minutes later and Landsdowne suddenly found themselves 2-1 down.

Despite this they battled on bravely and should have been awarded a penalty after 80 minutes.

Tony Bush was cynically challenged as he raced towards the goal and even the visiting fans couldn't believe the fact that the referee didn't award a penalty.

Hockley closed out the game scoring a third goal, although in reality it could have been more but for Mark Potts return to form pulling of some outstanding saves near the end.

So although the final result was probably deserved, the players after the game certainly felt a huge disappointment, given that for half an hour, before the injuries, Landsdowne had played its best football of the season so far.