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6th Jan: Nailsea 4 Widcombe 0
Nailsea keep up the pressure at the top of Division 2 as they move into 3rd place with a 4-0 home win over Widcombe.
The first game of the season for the new look management team of Britton (FearsLeftFoot), Rowe and Smith and a strong Nailsea squad, with many players returning to the fold, took to the field in very wet conditions.
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Widcombe made the better start to the match and could (should) have been a goal or two up in the first 26 minutes. Nailsea's only notable attack being a decent effort from Bardbury just past the post.
After a slow start Nailsea suddenly found their feet and confidence with a flourish. A good save from the Widcombe keeper first denied Hall, with Lansdown (Jono) heading the resulting corner wide of the target on 28mins.
Further shots from Hall and Bradbury were well saved again by the keeper. On 35 mins Hall swung in a lovely corner which was met perfectly by The Hass with an unstoppable header into the roof of the net. A text-book corner routine.
With Nailsea really working up a head of steam, further attempts on the Widcombe goal came in the form of a 30 yard lobbed effort by Jono and a 1-on-1 Bradbury dash, both saved by the over-worked goalie.
With Nailsea taking a 1-0 lead into half-time the new gaffer (FLF) decided to take over the role of referee from Rowe, bringing on club captain Mark as a more than able replacement.
The second half again saw Widcombe start strongly with some good inter-play in the Nailsea half. However, it didn't take Nailsea long to extend their lead with some good work from Smith down the left wing. A good pass into The Hass in the box who laid it off perfectly to Jono, who saw his well struck shot (with a slight deflection) nestle into the corner of the net. 2-0 to Nailsea after 52 mins and all guns blazing.
Another great bit of play from Smith on the left resulted in the Widcombe keeper saving from a Hall header. This was followed up with a Woodward corner being headed narrowly wide by Wood.
Hall then added to the Nailsea goal tally with a lovely curling effort from 25 yards into the top right hand corner, putting Nailsea out of sight at 3-0 up.
Not allowing the players to become complacent, an immediate double substitution saw Smith replaced by Rowe (right wing) with Woodward switching to the left wing and Maggs replace Bradbury up-front.
Maggs made an immediate impact forcing a double save from the excellent Widcombe keeper, which were followed by further saves from Hall and Maggs again. But with the Nailsea shot count now into double figures Widcombe refused to lie down and only a great save from Andrews denied them a consolation goal with 8 mins remaining.
Woodward was seeing more of the ball on the left and looking more effective for it, putting Maggs through with a defense splitting pass only to see his curling effort drift wide.
The best was saved to last though. Some mesmerising footwork from Woodward on the left freed Hall down the wing, who dummied the cross, then picked out Jono in the box to place a side-footed volley in off the crossbar. 4-0 to Nailsea and an excellent performance on an ever deteriorating pitch and lets not forget the 20 yard mud slide by Marks across the centre-cirle which kept the fans on the touchline amused.
Pick of the Widcombe team had to be their excellent keeper, but fair play to the rest for never giving up.
Line-up: Andrews, Searle, Noble, Wood, Britton(Mark), Woodward, Lansdown, Hass, Smith(Rowe), Hall, Bradbury(Maggs).
Goals: Jon Lansdown(2), The Hass, Kelvin Hall
Bookings: none
Nailsea MOM: Jon Lansdown
Opposition MVP: Kelvin Hall
Match entertainment rating: 8/10
Report by Mike Provis
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