26.01.08
Man of the match: Rob Briginshaw
Corinthians went into this game with a depleted squad but a determination to compete with one of the sides at the top of the table. With manager Richard Hand, Ricky Sidhu, Gary Mancini, and Tom Goodlock amongst others unavailable, the Whites lined up in an unfamiliar three at the back system, with Ben Westwood and Joe Drinkwater making their debuts.
The game started evenly with Westwood and the Jerrome brothers, Joe and Ethan, looking dangerous going forward, however the more experienced Newbury back line was proving a formidable obstacle. As the half wore on Corinthians were coming under more pressure, however the defensive line of Drinkwater, captain Ben Ardron, Simon Ibbitt and Andy Humphreys was standing strong and limiting the visitors to long-range efforts and a few corners, which keeper Andy Stranks was claiming impressively.
With 20 minutes gone Newbury moved into a phase of sustained pressure with Corinthians seemingly unable to maintain possession. Rob Briginshaw and Roger Allwood in midfield were working hard in midfield to retrieve the ball but all too often were given limited options once they had. On 25 minutes Newbury managed to turn this pressure into a goal, albeit fortunately when a right wing cross swirled in the wind and sailed over Stranks into the far corner of the goal. As has too often been the case with a Corinthians side over the years, this triggered 10 minutes of uninspired play by the Whites as they conceded two further avoidable goals to go 3-0 down with the end of the half in sight. Five minutes before the break however, a mix up in the Newbury defence saw Joe Jerrome play a through ball to Westwood who controlled the ball before bearing down on the Newbury keeper and finishing confidently in the bottom corner.
At half time the message was all about eradicating errors and playing with confidence. Allwood came off to be replaced by Steve Cail, and Matthew Charters moved into midfield. The second period began and immediately it was pleasing to note a dramatic improvement. Drinkwater and Ardron formed an impressive central defensive partnership, ably supported by Ibbitt and Humphreys, and this was the foundation upon which a far better 45 minutes was based. Given more freedom Briginshaw was causing problems in the Newbury defensive line with good movement and intelligent balls, and it was his attitude which began to infect the side.
Sadly this improved performance was not to bring its rewards, and the cause was not helped by an injury to Joe Jerrome who became a passenger as there was no substitutes to bring on. With 10 minutes to go Newbury put the nail in the coffin when a mix up saw a cross fall to the feet of the Newbury forward to fired home to make the final score 4-1 to the visitors.
All in all this was a promising performance by a Corinthians side that has had precious little football in the past seven weeks. This years 4th Division has five stand-out sides that would not be out of place several divisions higher as their cup results would suggest. Competing with such sides has given this new Corinthians team an idea of the kind of consistency and ruthlessness that they must aspire too, but it has also provided them with a very difficult first season, which they have done well to stick together through. With only one more game against the ‘big-five’ in their remaining six games, a consistent squad could well see a good finish to the season and a 6th place finish, which would be a successful debut season and a good base to move on from next campaign.