Old Challoner's v Old Isleworthians

Team: Raithatha, Walsh, Rogers, Redders, Dias, Fallon, Powell, Lowes, Gardner, Fuzz, Croucher Beauchamos, Weisz.

Score: 4:1
Scorers: Powell, Redders, Fallon, Lowes

Challoners started brightly against Old Isleworthians creating a few half chances in the first 20 minutes. Lowes and Powell dominated this period of the game and probed away with some intelligent passes to the front two - Fuzz should have won a penalty and Croucher spurned a chance wide.

Half way through the first period, though, Challoners seemed to lose their way. Poor passing and lack of composure on the ball reduced Challoners to imposing their physical game only, with little or no creativity.

20 minutes in and against the run of play, Old Isleworthians scored from the only way they were ever going to: from a mistake. Walsh was in possession at left back, head up, looking for options. Rogers offered one and the pass came inside, but was anticipated by an Old Isleworthians striker who reacted first. The surprised Rogers' got the player instead of the ball and conceded the first penalty of his career. This was to be the only mistake the defense made all day.

Once the penalty was dispatched, Challoners continued to fail in their attempts to play good football. They remained physically superior, but lacked any spark. Fallon and Gardner failed to make an impact down the wings with Fallon in particular providing more threat from his dangerous corner deliveries than from open play.

Half time came and the injured Weisz delivered the team talk. Challoners raised the pace of the game after the break, and dominated every position on the pitch, pressing for the equalizer. Fallon began to have some success down the left while the effective Powell and Lowes partnership will have given manager Weisz a selection headache upon Allen's return from International duty.

The break-through came when a neat Challoners move found Powell on one of his box-runs. Powell finished well under pressure and slotted the ball neatly past the keeper.

Challoners continued to dominate with Fuzz stretching the visitors' defense out of position and the midfield linking the play with simple but effective passing. The pressure was made to count once more when Redpath headed in at the near post from a superb Fallon corner.

With the crowd behind them, Challoners wanted more. 5 minutes later, a dangerous delivery from Walsh put the keeper under pressure from Croucher. The keeper spilled the ball, allowing Fallon to cap his excellent second half performance with a goal. This signified the end of the game for Old Isleworthians and many of their players' heads dropped. The home side did not settle for 3-1. Adding creativity to their first half physical display, Challoners played some fine football and added to their lead 5 minutes from time. On a rare visit into the last third of the pitch Walsh was judged to have been obstructed in the area. The resulting free kick saw Lowes fire into the top corner for his 3rdh in as many games.

Although Challoners will be happy with the second half display and the result, the nature of the performance in the first half will serve as a warning to Challoners that their biggest threat in Senior 2 is likely to be complacency.

Man of the match: Redders