Division One
Biggleswade United 4 New Bradwell St Peter 2
Saturday, 27 September 2003
A stunning solo goal from United striker Robbie O'Dell proved to be the turning point in United's fortunes in this closely fought, highly charged Division One encounter at Second Meadow on Saturday.
The Peters arrived in confident mood following three consecutive League wins after a poor start to the season and of course that 1-0 cup defeat over Premier Division Waders a few weeks ago. In their line up they included three former Stony Stratford players and a smattering of the now defunct Milton Keynes City squad. United welcomed back from injury stalwart Darren Boyd but the programme notes reported on Luke Napper's recent ruptured Achilles tendon that will see the player sidelined for the rest of the season and on crutches for his forthcoming wedding.
Still buoyant from their recent cup campaigns, United started the game at cracking pace with O'Dell curling the ball inches wide of the upright and Neil Dimmock blasting over the crossbar from close range within the opening minutes. But a moment of inspiration from Jamie Derby saw him outwit three Peters' defenders with a reverse pass in to Dimmock's path and United's current leading goalscorer placed the ball in to the net for 1-0 after just ten minutes.
Paul Sloley, once the Division's most prolific goalscorer, was the player most likely to cause United grief and he certainly made his intentions clear in the 14th minute with a fierce strike that United keeper Dean Bull did well to hold onto.
At the other end Dimmock was gifted a further two excellent chances and Derby and Daren Till also missed opportunities that should have sealed the game for United within the opening half hour. But Peters weathered the storm and grabbed an equaliser in the 37th minute through former MK City striker Paul Bevis.
A mistake by midfield man Peter Sogbodjor saw him inadvertently pass the ball to dangerman Sloley who spotted Bevis free on the edge of the box and the number 10 fired past Bull to level the sides.
United's back line were now on their heels as the visitors pushed the game forward and it took just a further moment of indecision in the United penalty for the Buckinghamshire side to grab the lead with just seconds left before the interval. A cross from the left flank flew over the United pack and to unmarked Hugo McGlue who headed home with ease to take his side in 1-2 up at the tea break.
The first half was a somewhat sedate affair compared to the fire and brimstone of the second! United opened the half with further missed chances and Peters' keeper James Carrigan kept his side's lead safe with a string of saves most notably a near post save from Derby.
Sadly though Dimmock was forced to retire from the game after badly twisting his ankle in the 57th minute but his replacement, Michael Ettienne, was the link man in a superb equalising 63rd minute goal from O'Dell. Collecting the ball from Ettienne, O'Dell beat no fewer than six Peter's players and stabbed the ball past Carrigan from twenty yards out.
The 73rd minute brought about the controversy that eventually saw the visitors reduced to ten men and for all intents and purposes handed United all three points. A strike from United's Leon Palma in to a crowded area saw every United player spontaneously appeal hand ball. The referee saw nothing but his assistant signalled that, along with every United player, he also had spotted the hand ball by McGlue. Swamped by irate Peters players Mr Beardon pointed to the spot and while the visiting officials tried to calm their dugout United's Mark Tyler gave the hosts the lead with a well taken penalty
McGlue made his exit from the game following his second yellow of the day and United took full advantage and dominated play for the final quarter. Etienne should have notched his first for United but glanced his header wide and Mathew Primus, playing his best game so far in a United shirt, hit a low strike in to the arms of Carrigan. But it was O'Dell that secured maximum points for the hosts and move them in to seventh spot. Derby was once again supplier with a ball chipped over the Peter's back line to O'Dell who kept his head to slide the ball home for 4-2.
United: Bull, Primus, Till, Hutchison, Boyd, Dimmock (Ettienne), Palma, Sogbodjor, Derby, O'Dell, Tyler
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