13.10.07
Man of the match: Roger Alwood
The steady improvements of the past three weeks saw Corinthians score their first win of the season against a young and enthusiastic Winnershe team buoyed following an 8-0 win last week. With Rich Hand and Chris Maffey still injured, and keeper Andy Stranks unavailable, Roger Alwood donned the gloves, with Matthew Charters, Gary Mancini and Andy Humphreys remaining in defence.
The game started at a frantic pace with the Jerrome brother, Joe and Ethan pushing forward for the Corinthians and causing the home defence concern, and the visitors looking to push men forward at every given opportunity. On two occasions in the opening exchanges the home side were caught on the back foot and it was last minute challenges from Mancini and Humphreys that saved the day. In the Corinthians goal Alwood was using his rugby experience to good effect as he came from his line to claim the majority of crosses and corners, while in midfield Steve Cail and Rob Briginshaw were working tirelessly to both defend and support the forwards.
On 20 minutes it was the home side that took a deserved lead with a well worked goal and finish when Briginshaw, Ethan Jerrome and Dimba Keir combined to see Joe Jerrome receive the ball on the edge of the box before unleashing a fine right-footed drive into the far corner. Inspired by the strike Corinthians pushed forward again and were unlucky not to double their lead on a number of occasions with Ethan Jerrome in particular causing all kinds of problems. On the flanks Simon Ibbitt and Richard Spurr were starting to find space and looked happy when defending their men.
At half time the importance of not sitting back on the lead was stressed, as the next goal would have a major bearing on the game, and this message was taken on board as the team came out and pushed forward once again. Ben Ardron, playing his comeback match following injury, came on to replace the injured Humphreys, and got immediately into his stride, looking solid alongside Charters and Mancini. Tom Bell replaced Cail on 60 minutes, and not long afterwards Corinthians doubled their lead when a Joe Jerrome corner, from which the Whites had looked dangerous all game, was met powerfully by Keir for his first of the season.
The final half an hour saw Winnershe push forward but never really trouble Alwood, who looked comfortable between the posts. At times the game threatened to descend into hand-bags when Corinthians should really have been keeping their heads and concentrating on closing out the win, but in the end the victory was achieved.
Hopefully this win will see a new found confidence in the side, although the challenges do not let up as next week sees the team travel to Newbury to face the very strong Newbury FC Reserves who are riding high in the division and are sure to prove to be tough opposition.