Millwey Rise 1stX1 3, Cranbrook Utd 1stX1 1
It took Millwey just one minute to open the scoring when Luke Furlow scored from a Sam Dibling assist. For the rest of the half they were by far the dominant team but without any further reward for their efforts. It therefore came as some surprise when Cranbrook equalised as Millwey's defence were caught completely flatfooted in the dying minutes of the first half.
The second period began much like the first with Rise very much controlling the game. Manager Shane Featherstone made his first substitution when Sam Wadden replaced Jo Osborne. Then, in the space of minutes, Dibling with a powerful strike brought a terrific save from the visitor's keeper followed by a Furlow swerving strike that grazed the far post and then Dibling again saw his firmly struck shot graze the crossbar.
Cranbrook pushed forward and forced a couple of corners which were comfortably dealt with. Then Zak Meaker, breaking from midfield, saw his strike fly just over the visitors crossbar. Minutes later Furlow had the ball in the net aided by another Dibling assist for Millwey's second.
The pressure was really on the Cranbrook defence when first Wadden, fed by Owen Enticott, saw his shot skim the crossbar then a firmly struck shot from Nathan Womersley was gratefully clutched by the visitor's keeper.
Furlow and Sam Turner gave way to Matt Lewis and Ben Webb as Millwey kept pushing forward. What looked a certain penalty in Millwey's favour was instead relegated to the edge of the area but Dibling's strike flew over the bar.
The final Rise goal came from a misplaced clearance which Zak Meaker latched onto and blasted the ball home past the Cranbrook keeper. The final substitution saw Brett Garner replace the hard working Womersley in midfield minutes before the final whistle blew.
Rise certainly deserved their victory. Everyone in the team played their part in producing the final result. Zak Meaker in midfield and young Owen Enticott on the wing were prominent but the solid performance of defender Bailey Hall earnt him the man-of-the-match.
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