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27th Jan: Welstock 1 Nailsea 1
With the tie being switched to the Scotch Horn Arena due to Welstock's changing rooms being condemned, a feisty game was always on the cards between the two top teams in division 2.
Both teams didn't dissapoint, with the Nailsea players playing some of their best football of the season. The gaffer resorted back to the tried and tested 4-4-2 formation for this match out of respect to the oppposition, who are riding high at the top of table.
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Welstock carried a very physical threat in attack with their front two putting themselves about at every opportunity. However, after a shakey start from the normally solid Noble, the Nailsea back four stood strong and proud absorbing everything Welstock could throw at them.
Nailsea were the better team for the opening 30 minutes. Debutant Jon Mark was holding the ball up brilliantly in attack and the midfield were linking up well and playing some attractive football. However, chances were few and far between.
Welstock were taking a more direct route with their football, bypassing the midfield at times and hitting it long to the front two. They started to get a grip on the game and bossed the final 15 minutes of the first half. Nailsea had to be at their best in defense to keep out the growing Welstock threat.
With the score still goaless at half-time, Nailsea threw on Max Randall on the right of midfield for his debut, with the versatile but unusualy quiet Woodward swapping to the left. Randall made an instant impact on the game, getting stuck in and providing a good outlet wide right.
Nailsea stepped up the pressure on Welstock with Lansdown setting Randall free down the wing. An early cross saw some great control from Jon Mark, before spinning on a sixpence and burying the ball in the top right corner of the Welstock net. 1-0 Nailsea and all looked good.
Nailsea continued to pile the pressure on the Welstock defense with Landsown having a few long range efforts and Bradbury becoming more and more influential in the game.
As the half wore on Welstock threw everything they had at Nailsea. Their midfield were playing some nice football and were increasingly hammering on the door of the Nailsea defence. Noble and Wood had to be at their best in the centre of the 'Nailsea brick' in order to keep the very lively (and physical) Welstock attack at bay.
With Nailsea looking like they might hold-out Welstock to capture all 3 points, with only minutes to go another Welstock attack resulted in the ball falling to an unmarked Welstock central midfielder 10 yards out. A right foot slice into the top corner of the net (they all count) gave the Nailsea keeper no chance and made the score 1-1.
So honours even at the end of this physical table-topping battle and not much to choose between the teams. With two draws from two league games against each other, the final encounter could be very interesting!
Line-up: Andrews, Searle, Noble, Wood, Britton, Woodward, Lansdown, A Mark, Fear(Randall), J Mark, Bradbury (Moss).
Goals: Jon Mark
Bookings: none
Nailsea MOM: Mike Wood
Opposition MVP: Jon Mark
Match entertainment rating: 8/10
Report by Mike Provis
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