Division One (East)
Penn & Tylers Green 4 Hounslow Borough FC 0
Saturday, 22 March 2003
Hints of blossom on the trees surrounding the ground heralded the start of spring as Penn took on a much improved Hounslow side in the latest match in the 2002/2003 league campaign. Two goals from Dave Allen (his first for the first team) put Penn in a commanding position and they eventually won the game comfortably with two more goals from Richie Bryant.
Penn kicked up the slope in the first half, and the game was a little disjointed. The flow of the game was not helped by the fact that the Penn A team were playing in a cup semi-final on the adjacent pitch. The first team management?s thoughts and concentration were inevitably divided as they kept looking around to see how their comrades were doing. The A team managed to win their game to the delight of all the Penn supporters. Anyhow, back to the first team fixture. The game came to life after a typically aggressive run into the opposition box by Gavin Groves. The defender clipped Gavin?s heels and the referee pointed to the spot. Gavin stepped up to take the penalty, struck the ball well, but the keeper saved his shot. Eventually the first goal arrived and was a super effort by young Dave Allen who cut in from the right wing to power a swerving shot into the top right hand corner of the Hounslow net. Still the game didn?t really flow, and Hounslow were always a threat from set pieces. Despite the creation of a number of good chances Penn failed to add to the score before the half time whistle.
Half Time: 1-0
After half time Penn began to settle down and play some good football on a difficult, dry and bumpy surface. A good passing movement ended when the Hounslow left back intercepted a pass intended for man of the match Dave Allen. However, the unfortunate defender dwelt too long on the ball. Dave dispossessed the player, and then out-sprinted him to tuck the ball away calmly, sliding the ball underneath the body of the oncoming keeper. Rob Clarke and Richie Bryant came on with about 25 minutes to go to add some fresh legs to the team effort. This gave Penn the impetus to take further advantage of a now dispirited Hounslow team and as the game opened up Richie Bryant took full advantage scoring two excellent goals.
A special mention should be made of the Penn back four and keeper Danny Wight who maintained great concentration throughout to notch up another clean sheet. Mark Fisher in particular was outstanding as he kept Hounslow?s Ian Jones, the Division?s leading goal, scorer quiet all game.
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