Yet another blistering hot afternoon saw us host 2nd placed Kingsdown. The same team who ended our start of season unbeaten run with an 8-0 hammering that took a while to recover from.

So redemption was the aim today, with only eleven players at the time of kickoff it was more a case of proving a point than gaining them, and damage limitation was the first and foremost priority, anything else would have been a bonus.

The game started pretty much as we expected with Kingsdown quick out the blocks and pressuring us from the 1st whistle. Tackles were flying in and we were restricting the visitors to long range efforts which, one great save aside, where not giving Mark too much trouble early on.

With the defence working like trojans to keep Kingsdown at bay and the mid-field working just as hard to pick up the pieces and create work of our own, it was a touch game for everyone involved. After absorbing the early pressure we managed to claw back some possession and we started to look more like the team that was top of the league for so long. Jak and Sam were working hard with the the few opportunities they go to work with the ball, and were holding up the play and moving the ball nicely. Our first chance of note fell to Steve after Kingsdown were not able to clear our attack properly, but under pressure Steve sent his effort wide of the right hand post. Our best opportunity of the first half however fell to Sean following some great quick passes in a long build up. With the keeper advancing and no defenders pressuring him, Sean looked to put the ball beyond the keepers reach in the top right hand corner, but just got too much on the ball to curve it inside the post.

Chewy made a hard timely tackle late in the first half to ensure Kingsdown and especially their no. 16 know they had a game on their hands. With the prize prick promising to break Chewy's leg, and that wasn't the last we heard of the outspoken knob.

With half time ending goalless, it was our work rate and never-say-die attitude that was keeping us in the game. Sam couldn't continue any longer as his constant effort up front meant his long standing injury was going to force him to sit out the second half of this match, and maybe even longer..

Marcus Passey made a return to the pitch for the Borough for the first time this year to replace him and this was the perfect game of a player of his willingness and hard working attitude.

Kingsdown continued in the same vein to find an opening goal, but we stood as resolute as we were in the 1st half. The mid-field on Jak, Jim, Steve and Kev were putting early pressure on their players and battling for all aerial balls, and with so much pace in the Kingsdown side it took some great challenges from Pete, Chewy and Ed to prevent them from running riot.

Early second half saw our attacking players see less and less of the ball, but as we continued to keep the visitors at bay, they started to show signs of frustration, we got a small lifeline, persistancy paid off as we were able to hasstle the ball off their defense, Sean crossed towards the centre and Steve finished with a fine right foot volley to give us the lead.
Kingsdown's response though was frighteningly quick and effective, and with their keeper swapping with anotehr outfield player, he was instantly amoungst the action as they levelled straight from the centre kick after smooth football and neat changes of direction had our defense twisted and helpless to prevent the equaliser in the final quarter of the match, our goal really inspired the visitors into action and two more fine saves from Mark were required to stop them steam rolling us, but as our early work paid its toll, Kingsdown were too much for us in the final 20 and two quick goals of similar high quality gave them the 3-1 victory.

With so much quality in the Kingsdown ranks it is hard to deny them the deserved three points but the result was very hard to take for us after so much hard graft and effort was put in, but we made a real accoutn for ourselves and Kingsdown were clearly delighted when they scored which, in my opinion pays tribute to the way we battled through out. Man of the Match went to Mark, deservedly, for three top class saves and general good work throughout but it was one of few occasions this season when everyone in blue could be proud of the effort in the game.