This was a game Southbank had to win to keep alive realistic hopes of third place and promotion but they unfotunately went into it without 2 players on first team duty and 1 player through injury.  Of the remaining twelve players three were carrying injuries so this was always likely to be a battle against one of the stronger sides in our division. 

After a relatively even start to the game Southbank began to get on top playing down the slope.  Harvey was having a good game, the back four looked solid with Steve Fullbrook looking back to his best and Steve Woodrow always looked a threat up front.  After about 25 minutes Southbank took a deserved lead when Woodrow fired home a spectacular volley from what looked an impossible angle.  On current form no angle is impossible to Woodrow though! Southbank continued slightly on top although Riverside were always competitive.  

Woodrow again went close after a neat flick from Graeme Storey and Malcolm Everest then somehow managed to flick the ball over the bar from one yard from Steve Woodrow's deep corner.  The fact that he closed his eyes as he thought he was going to head the post didn't help! 

1 v 0 was a satisfactory half time score after a tough 45 minutes.  The turning point of the game came five minutes into the second half when Karl Lobato went off injured.  With no natural replacement in the middle of the park Southbank were forced to reshuffle with John Pugh slotting in on the right, Charlie Cook moving up front and Steve Woodrow dropping back into midfield.  With hindsight this was a bad decision as Southbank lost their only real threat up front. 

Almost immediately Riverside equalised when they converted a disputed free kick from 20 yards.  You would have to question the goalkeeper's positioning as the ball was passed into the bottom corner of the half of the goal he was supposed to be covering. As per usual for Southbank recently they struck back immediately when Charlie Cook escaped the attention of the linesman and slotted home just as the Riverside centre backs got back to him.

This would prove to be a rare second half chance for Southbank as for the rest of the game the ball just kept coming back from the dominant Riverside centre back, Ian Slade. Southbank held their advantage until about 15 minutes from time.  The equaliser was again controversial as the Riverside forward appeared to charge down a clearance with his hands before beating Harvey at the second attempt.  Harvey was very unlucky not to pull off a fantastic double save but the second shot just had too much power to keep out. 

For the first time in weeks Southbank confidence seemed to disappear.  We were struggling to contain Riverside and posed very little threat on the break and it was no surprise when Riverside added two late goals, one of them a cross, to give them a flattering 4 v 2 victory. 

This result was a blow to Southbank's promotion hopes but other results in the league did go our way.  It is essential though that we start converting games in hand into points to avoid being dragged into a relegation battle. Next week see's Southbank playing in the quarter final of the league cup against old rivals Earley Gunners.  Let's hope the squad is back to full strength for a game we are well capable of winning.

Team: Harvey, Fullbrook, Edwards, Hankinson, Tappern, Cook, Lobato (Pugh), Persuad, Storey, Woodrow, Everest