Despite
missing 5 or 6 key players Southbank bounced back from the Black Boy defeat
to record their first win of the season at home to Real Ladygrove.
The game
kicked off in spectacular fashion as young centre back Olly
Bradbury opened the scoring after just two minutes with a
speculative effort from 40 yards. His well placed drive looped over the
despairing keeper and nestled into the top corner to give The 'Bank the
perfect start.
The lead
didn't last too long though as Ladygrove grew into the game with their
midfield gaining the upper hand after the early exchanges. A long ball
over the top should have been cleared by the usually reliable Simon Price
but his miss-control allowed Ladygrove's forward to lob Southbank keeper
Howroyd from 25 yards to level the score. A sweeping move down the left
involving debutant Andy MacArthur and Steve Woodrow carved open the
Ladygrove defence and ended with a tap in for Libyan centre forward
Nader Gehawi to restore the lead. The first half continued as an
open affair and both teams created chances. It was Ladygrove however that
finished the stronger and they equalised again with a good finish in a
crowded goalmouth scramble.
Despite
Ladygrove edging the first 45 minutes it was all one way as the teams came
out for the second half. As Southbank exerted control on the game and
Ladygrove heads began to drop The 'Bank ripped open a rather static defence
and showed a clinical touch infront of goal. Steve Woodrow added
two goals to his tally, one with an exquisite chip into the corner and the
other a solo effort rounding the keeper and slotting past a covering
defender. Woodrow almost claimed a hatrick direct from a corner as he saw
his curling set piece hit the inside of the post. Olly Bradbury pounced
on the rebound to find the net for a second time in the resulting goalmouth
scramble.
A 7-2 win was
wrapped by Nads Gehawi who scored his
first Southbank hatrick to take his tally to 7 goals in 11 games over the
last 3 years. A second Southbank debutant, Rene Gelante almost scored with
a spectacular effort from the right wing but his attempt just flew past the
far post with the keeper well beaten.
The only
downer on the game was a brief appearance by Player/Manager Mark Holton
which was ended by heavy tackle that tweaked his problematic back. Another
injury doubt for next week hangs over new left winger MacArthur who was
replaced by Holton after an impressive debut.
Team (4-4-2):
Howroyd, Gull, Latch, Price, Bradbury, Broomfield, Brown, Towner (Galante 55),
MacArthur (Holton 70),Woodrow, Gehawi