IBIS 2 nil.

Oh how the Christmas break has dragged on and on. Southbank played their first game today since 13/12/2009 a massive 6 weeks ago but ran out 2 nil winners against a hard working IBIS team at Coley.

With both teams having not played for so many weeks it was always going to be tricky game for all players as they looked to re-find the tempo and touch of 2009 at Coley. Overall I think everybody was glad to get back to Sunday morning traditions if only to get the fresh air or away from the missus judging by the atmosphere in the changing rooms before the game.

Southbank started brightly probing IBIS down each flank and took the lead on 15 minutes. Tim Dawson releasing Dion Dennie with a defence splitting pass, he then burnt the turf and delivered a quite brilliant cross on the run from the touch line, which IBIS keeper Mark Lemm tried to save but could only divert to Neil Healy 8 yards out to drill home and give Southbank the lead. However, from here the game went into a little stale phase as both teams cancelled each other out with aimless long balls from back to front and with defences on top, many may have regretted their decision to return to Sunday traditions.

To be honest there was very little between the teams as half-time came and went and the second half continued in the same vein but the game was wrapped up by an awesome 25 yard strike by Dion Dennie on the hour into the top corner, which was also surprisingly his first goal of the season. Dion received the ball 35 yards out on the left wing, cut in towards the IBIS defence and let rip with a right foot shot which came with such power that if the net hadn’t been there, the ball would surely have carried on travelling until Monday.  Lemmy in goal certainly had no chance despite a valiant dive and this gave Southbank the breathing space they needed.

The game opened up a little after that as both teams made the full complement of subs and players tired but Southbank’s defence stood firm and couldn’t find a third at the other end to record their second successive clean sheet.

Special mentions to Jamie Froude who was without doubt all action at right back and deserved man of the match and Johnny Adey who after a 20 mins debut against Abbey Rangers in October returned after 13 weeks out with a ankle injury, sporting a ‘Terry Butcher’ head bandage.