Late Goal Breaches Phoenix Defences

Group Cup: Jubilee -1 Gower Phoenix -0

Gower Phoenix (4-4-2) Greg- Dens, Treeno, Luke, Henry – Muffdog, Lucas, Wall, Miles – Jon, Fleshie

Hackney Marshes proved an unhappy hunting ground for the men of the Phoenix as a late Jubilee free kick eluded Greg and won what was an ugly game all round.

Following serious issues with the oppo’s timings / refs / nets etc. eventually Gower kicked off and almost scored in the first minutes as Lucas broke through but scuffed his shot. On a windy day against a physical opposition that pressed the Phoenix high up the pitch the level of passing was catastrophic with normally accomplished players giving the ball away too often.

The calm at the centre of the storm throughout was Treeno – a rock against which the Jubilee attacks broke with little quarter given.

Jon Hanna was also proving a handful but was not given the right level of service for all his storming running.

Second half saw Dens go off when his boots fell to bits and saw Muffdog concede a penalty with a hefty tackle in the box. The Jubilee striker smashed it miles over.

Hanna then saw a header just flash wide and Lucas missed another good chance in a very forgettable encounter. The Jubilee free kick goal, which followed a hug off between the Wall and his opposite number was rough justice, especially for the back four who worked tirelessly under the leadership of Treen.

Fleshie almost equalised with a free kick near the death but the Phoenix were to be denied. Not our cup this one – but top of the league with two games to go before Christmas and a learning experience had in the depths of Hackney..

MOTM: Treeno – best player on the pitch by a fair margin.