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| Saturday 12 November 2005 East Court 2 Old Varndeanians III 2 FOLLOWING last weekends first league defeat of the season East Court were only able to make it one point from six after battling back from two goals down at Imberhorne against bottom of the table Old Varndeanians III last Saturday. Changes were enforced on the team as Nick Palmer withdrew due to an injury that was aggravated at Fletching. East Court started well and enjoyed the majority of the possession in the opening fifteen minutes as the visitors struggled to make an impact. Despite the superiority of the home side's play it was Old Varndeanians who took the lead. For the second week running it was East Court's failure to defend properly at a corner that led to the goal. As the corner was taken all the opposition strikers were marked but the ball was headed out to the edge of the area where an unmarked Varndeanian player was free and had time to control the ball before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner giving keeper Dan Lamprell no chance. The Brighton side continued to stifle East Court?s midfield and stopped the home side creating chances but even so it was a surprise when the visitors scored again. A long ball forward hit the back of the visiting number 9 and it dropped the wrong side for the covering defender to get to before being clinically despatched past Lamprell's despairing dive. This was the signal for East Court to take the game by the scruff of the neck and by half-time it was 2-2. Having got back to their passing game it was no surprise when one such move led to the first goal. Billy Denyer received the ball in the penalty box and held off three defenders before finding Paul Brice in space who passed the ball into the corner of the goal. On the stroker of half-time East Court got a deserved equaliser when Denyer reacted quickest to a scramble in the box to fire the ball home through a crowded penalty area. Both teams had the ball in the back of the net during a second half that was again dominated by the home side. Ross Kelly had a header disallowed for offside after a well-worked move and Varndeanians had a goal disallowed direct from a corner for an innocuous foul in the six yard box. The Old Varndeanians keeper pulled off a couple of fine saves but his penchant for spilling shot after shot almost cost his team the game. Paul Brice looked to have a great chance to seal the win when he got to a rebound first only to miss from inside the six yard box. East Court continued to push forward but a resolute Varndeanians defence held firm. Team: D.Lamprell, A.Wright, D.Medcalf, S.Nickols, L.Champion, A.Shillibeer, P.Brice, B.Denyer, R.Kelly, J.Salter (P.Bishop), B.Sunderland |