Mistakes Cost Phoenix Dear

MA Cup - Q/F: Clissold Thistle 4 Gower Phoenix 3

(4-4-2) Greg-Dens, Ell, Thompo, Sav- Miles, Ricky, Muffdog, Jake – Jon Hanna, Fleshie

Individual errors cost Phoenix a place in the last four of the MA Cup on a rainy day down at Hackney Marshes.

It was a weekend of sporting upsets and a strong Phoenix 11 failed to convince against an average but determined opposition.

Thistle scored almost immediately after Ell lost out to Thistle’s best player who then rounded Greg to make it 1-0.

Decent play from Ricky, Jake and Jon Hanna saw the burly left-mid tap in a Hanna cross to make it 1-1 ten minutes later as the rain began to fall. Phoenix then failed to clear a free kick and Thistle nicked in to make it 2-1.

Just before half-time and a long Ricky throw in from the left eluded everyone to make it 2-2, with a touch from Jon Hanna.

Dens went off with an injury at the end of the half and Tom came on at right back with Sav moving across to left back.

Yet Phoenix were not gelling in the centre of the park and looked nervous in defence, with Thompo struggling with a injury picked up in the first 10 minutes. Good chances for Fleshie and Hanna, a couple of long range efforts from Ricky were all that were on show, then disaster as Ell got caught napping by Thistle’s striker for a repeat of the first goal – 3-2.

With time running out the move of the day saw Hanna played in and finish confidently to make it 3-3. Then with minutes left before extra-time Greg let a long range effort go straight through him and the game was lost 4-3.

So Phoenix are still fighting on 2 fronts and need to bounce back for the league and the divisional cup – our two original targets!! We can still do this boys, show character and finish the season with the trophies we know we’re capable of winning.

MOTM-Ricky – class above the rest