Posted: 18th ~ April ~ 2009

Manford Halt the Wood in the Cup

Date : April 18th 2009
Fixture : League Game - Home
Result : Harold Wood 4 - 1 Benfleet

Wood’s second home game in 48 hours saw them entertain Benfleet on Saturday. Wood started very brightly and could have taken the lead with the first attack of the game, Gallen producing a good save from the away keeper.
It didn’t though take long for the first goal of the afternoon. Some good play from Ziepe and Todd on the right saw Todd cut the ball back too Gallen who’s shot was well saved, but strike partner Wilson was on hand too smash the ball home.
It became two shortly after, some great interchange of passes between Ayres and Ziepe saw Ayres clinically scythed down in the box. With Thursday’s penalty scorer Portway on the bench Rafis stepped up and calmly tucked the ball home too the keepers right. The Wood centre half pairing of Klien and Wettner ensured that Wood went in at half time two up, the latter winning virtually every single header all afternoon.
Wood started the second half better and looked too extend their lead, Wilson seeing his shot come back off the post. From a Wood corner Rafis grabbed his second of the game and Wood’s third, a neat low header that beat the keeper at the near post.
Just like Thursday though Wood conceded a sloppy goal, Darren Godfrey Benfleet’s prolific striker saw his weak shot just trickle over the line. With Benfleet beginning too tire though Wood grabbed a forth. Gallen picking the ball up just inside the opposition half and beating three statue like defenders before squeezing the ball underneath the keeper. Wood could and probably should have had more, subs Sawyer and Portway producing more saves from the Benfleet keeper. At the end of the day it was another three points for Wood who now face two difficult away games in a week at Manford and Kelvedon.

Team Lineup :Bonner; Fyffe (Stamp), Wettner, Klien, Todd; Ziepe, Rafis, Ayres, Hughes (Sawyer); Gallen, Wilson (Portway)

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