Report
The Lilywhites recorded their first away win since October with a magnificent attacking display in the first half, started off with an excellent goal from Jay Notley, and a fighting defensive battle in the second half capped by some excellent goalkeeping from Dave Curtis.
Leyton Pennant took to the awful conditions much more readily than did the home side. A deluge of rain just before the kick off had turned parts of the pitch into a quagmire but the Lilywhites took control in the centre of the park and spread the ball to the wings effectively. After only eight minutes, they took the lead through Notley. Ian Barnes took the ball out to the right of the Banstead penalty area and swung in a low hard cross dissecting the box five yards from its limit. Notley connected sweetly and half volleyed the ball home into the right hand corner of the net.
The counter attack was feeble and ten minutes later, Notley popped up in the area again to force an excellent diving save from Banstead custodian Glyn Shimell. This was to prove a pattern in the first half: Notley able to move into menacing position because, in the main, the Lilywhites kept control of the midfield thus allowing a more attacking role. On 19 minutes Notley could have bagged another when he got clean through the Banstead defence. However, the muddy conditions hampered the strength of his shot and the ‘keeper was able to push the shot wide.
This time Banstead did fight back and Curtis was asked to make a number of telling saves. On one occasion they hit the bar, Curtis caught the rebound and was fouled for his troubles. Up the other end Lilywhites’ Jamie Reilly was taking command: his running at the defence and fighting for lost causes kept the Banstead defenders on their toes. He too saw a number of efforts go just wide or be saved by the ‘keeper. On 39 minutes he managed to get almost to the byline in the six yard box only to see his shot rebound off the post. Banstead then went right down to the Lilywhites’ end and hit the post as well.
The second half saw the Lilywhites engaged in the most energy sapping defensive game imaginable. Banstead really did try to throw everything into attack to win the game. But the Lilywhites’ defence stood solid. Tilley and Morgan cleared every high ball and when they got the chance to attack on the break, they did. This could have caused problems: on one occasion Banstead’s Michael Beal got clean through on the left wing. He was odds on to score but Curtis gathered all his experience and stayed on his feet to make the block.
With twenty minutes to go, Neil Tilley had to go off (he’d been having an excellent game both defensively and in setting up attacks) and new signing from Eton Manor, James Peters came on. For his first game at this level he acquitted himself particularly well. The Lilywhites continued to force the game into the Banstead half and were somewhat mesmerised by the seven minutes added on by the referee. In the end they gained a much deserved three points.