Premier Division
North Leigh FC 2 Pegasus Juniors 0
Saturday, 22 February 2003
Pegasus Juniors faced another challenging away fixture against league leaders North Leigh in the Premier Division of the Cherry Red Records Hellenic League, although they were unable to match the performance of the previous week they made the league leaders struggle for two scrappy goals to secure the points in a hard fought game.
For the second successive game the visitors started with a new goalkeeper following long term injuries to Matt Taylor (thigh) and John Mahoney (broken ribs) Mark Hopkins filled the breach this weekend. After losing six players through injury, sickness and work commitments this was always going to be a difficult encounter, yet such is the new found determination and resilience it was the visitors that opened the brighter of the two sides.
In the seventh minute Hopkins was forced to make a fine one handed stop from Harry Burnley, Pegasus countered quickly the keeper found Gavin Stone on the right, Leigh Harris making his first appearance of the season dummied and let the ball run to Del Ewers who tried to flick the ball over the advancing Kevin Alder who managed to deflect it to a defender. Keith Holmans playing in midfield found Harris just inside the penalty box, his lob over Alder was cleared off the line straight to Stone but his first time block was charged down and cleared to safety. The league leaders started to achieve some success with the direct approach to the pacey front runners Burnley and Adam Hamp, both forcing several excellent saves from Hopkins. On the half hour a corner kick taken by Ewers found the unmarked Holmans who flashed a vicious shot past the far upright with Alder rooted to spot. The visitors were punished for this in the thirty fourth minute when after a short period of home pressure Matty Ellis mishit his shot at the far post and the ball bobbled over the goal line. North Leigh pushed forward for the final minutes of the half and should have increased the lead however this was denied by some resolute defending coupled with poor finishing.
Half Time: 1-0
Straight from the restart man of the match Hopkins was forced into action again saving well from Burnley, however, the visitors were not going to lie down as Holmans and Stone combined for the latter to force a decent save from Alder. On the hour mark Leigh Stevens slipped the ball to Stone who under pressure from his marker was unable to make the most of the opportunity and Alder saved at the feet of the young striker. As the final score appeared set for a one goal advantage to North Leigh substitute Nick Forrester got to the bye line and crossed to the unmarked Burnley who scored with the aid of his shin to make the home supporters breathe a little easier.
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