AP: Junior Howards

 

Riverside: Colin Ryan (2), Liam O'Callahan (3)

 

Adderbury Park FC, suffered their second heavy defeat in a row on a heavy pitch at the Lucy Plackett Playing field.

AP again started brightly taking the game to their visitors and showing glimpses of the early season fluid football everyone knows they are more than capable of. Josh Bowden squandered a glorious chance in the opening minutes when Elliott Hillmans cross found Bowden unmarked 8 yards out, but the young striker could only drag his shot wide. It was a tight affair with the influential pair in the middle for Riverside beginning to pull the strings. But after Park were seemingly in control an awful corner was left by the AP back line as a shout had indicated it was running out, but it wasn’t and a Riverside player nipped in, squared the ball and a player had the simple task of side-footing home to give the visitors the lead against the run of play. But within 10 minutes Park were level, Mark Essex headed the ball onto Junior Howards who out muscled and paced the Riverside back line to escape and fire home to bring the sides level at 1-1. Park were then well on top, first Howards had a shot beaten away by the keeper and Gavin Connor fired straight at the goalie when well placed. Josh Bowden glanced a header wide and Jacob Goddard came close from distance.  But right on half-time Riverside took the lead, after a routine long kick from the keeper wasn’t dealt with, the centre midfielder strode forward unopposed and as the ball bobbled forward and bounced of tackles the midfielder struck a shot that deflected off an AP defender and rolled into the new past Peter Cooper

 

 Half-time – AP 1-2 Riverside

AP knew that they were still well in the game but the next goal was crucial. Unfortunately for AP it went to Riverside. Their midfielder completed his hat-trick with a driven effort, after Peter Cooper was unsighted behind his wall. AP then lost Captain Essex to injury and he was replaced by Joe Marron. It was all Riverside now as AP seemed to crumble and before long it was 4-1. A routine cross into the box was met by the other influential midfielder who headed home. Cooper could only get a hand to the effort. 4 was then 5 when a cross dropped into the 6 yard box and Cooper didn’t come to claim and the midfielder grabbed his second of the game as he headed home.

It was a shame on the AP backline who had done OK throughout but with them being overloaded, they were left mightily exposed in the second half. James Trevitt went close before AP lost Howards to injury and the game petered out with Park well beaten. Park need to show greater fight and team spirit when falling behind in games as another huge collapse is seriously threatening to derail their season.