3 Points is still 3 Points   Southbank entertained Riverside at Coley Park for the first time this year and continued on last weeks’ 3 points with another three, although they made exceptional hard work of it in the last 20 minutes and very nearly threw the victory away. Missing, Hightower, Danny and Zeph all injured and Gale to final week’s suspension, Hightower was able to call on the available Olly, Archie and Ryan to add to the starting eleven and field an extremely good team. The Bank set about their opposition during the first 45 minutes and although struggled to find the killer pass, dominated for long periods, and rightfully took the lead after 30 minutes. Jason Wagner left off from last week goals, completing a good passage of play with a left foot shot 20 yards out to give the Bank a 1 nil lead. The Bank continued to create chances and extended their lead in the last 10 minutes of the half when Olly Bradbury opened his account for the season, pouncing on a scramble in the box to poke home. At half time the Bank talked about keeping quiet on the pitch and just playing football and for 20 minutes this is exactly what happened. Finally, after creating a number of chances including hitting the bar, and having a goal disallowed, Gavin scored from a good free-kick, 20 yards out and appear to seal the game for the Bank. A number of changes then followed as Hightower tried to make full use of his resources, Kal Smith made his debut in place of Ryan and Cameron also made his debut for the tired Wagner. However perhaps this was the catalyst for the Riverside goals which would follow in the last 25 minutes. Firstly out of nothing Riverside pulled one back and gave them a sniff of a way back into the game. Again for 5 minutes other chances came and went for the Bank and then the moment which perhaps accelerated the decline which followed in the next 15 minutes. Bryce, playing centre half due to injuries to Zeph and Hightower became injured himself. Before they change could be made Riverside scored again, totally out of the blue and the confusion was in full swing within the Bank’s defence. 3-2 certainly didn’t reflect the pattern of the game but this was the case and Southbank were suddenly in a game. Southbank did finally seem to bury the game when they scored a fourth and appear to put the game beyond the spirited Riverside team. After good work by Ackmal and Cameron, Benji finished off for his first goal of the season and just reward for his tireless running and effort. However, Riverside were not done and when another sloppy goal, resulted in the Riverside pulling back a third and final goal a grandstand finish was one. However, the Bank clung on for a well deserved, if not a little messy three points too ensure and excellent start to the season. Most pleasing to Hightower was the character showed by the players and this character will be required throughout the season and should learn that they can not expect to win all the games easily and will have to fight and battle sometimes.   Team: Cook, Gull, Bradbury, Bellman (Booth), Fletcher, Derman (Smith), Wagner (Cameron), McKie, Saleem, Hill, Williams