Boldmere St. Michaels Reserves 4 - 0 Banbury United
The Mikes Reserves maintained their 100% record in the Challenge Bowl as the swept aside Banbury United Reserves by four goals to nil.
With the Trevor Brown Memorial Ground bathed in sunshine, both teams looked to make the most of the superb playing surface. The Mikes showed 10 changes to their starting line up, as the Mikes gave full run outs to those who have been occupying the first team bench in recent games.
This meant that the Mikes took a while to settle down, but it was the home side who created the chances. The visiting keeper had a busy half, making two fine saves from Jared McGivern and denying both Tom Law and Jamel Fuller. However, he was powerless to stop Fuller from opening the scoring midway through the half.
Tom Law tuned inside his marker just outside the box, then unselfishly left the ball to allow the onrushing Fuller to advance on goal before calmly slotting home from 15 yards The game was fairly open and Banbury were doing their fair share of pressing, but they were restricted to long range efforts and any balls into the box were collected by the commanding Sean Butler.
The Mikes failed to hit the target with a couple of presentable shooting opportunities around the box, so went in with a one-goal lead.
The home side almost increased their lead immediately after the restart. Tom Law raced onto Jamie Fisher’s through ball, steering the ball past the onrushing keeper, only to see it roll agonisingly wide. The Mikes didn’t have to wait long for their second goal though. Kirk Smith, returning from suspension for his first appearance of the season, whipped a corner to the far post where skipper Neil Hanlon stole in front of his marker to plant home a great header from 8 yards. The second goal visibly knocked the stuffing out of the visitors, and it seemed a question of how many the Mikes could score.
Jamel Fuller just failed to reach Tom Law with the goal at his mercy, then substitute Stuart Grosvenor somehow contrived to spoon his shot away from goal after superbly chesting the ball down. Grosvenor didn’t have to wait long to get on the scoresheet, taking a neat pass in his stride, before cutting across his marker and shaping a sublime 20-yard left-footed shot into the bottom corner at the keeper’s near post. He soon had the chance to add a second, but was crowded out in the box. The loose ball fell to Tom Law 20 yards from goal, and he rifled a superb low shot into the bottom corner of the net.
All in all, the Mikes will be satisfied with a comfortable win and a clean sheet, but they could have made it easier for themselves by being more clinical in the first half.
Boldmere Reserves:
1. Sean Butler; 2. Jamel Wilson; 3. Jon Rutter; 4; Neil Hanlon; 5. Jamie Fisher; 6. Andy Lewis; 7. Kirk Smith; 8. Robin Keates; 9. Jared McGivern; 10. Tom Law; 11. Jamel Fuller.
Subs:
12. Andre Gonzales (for Fuller); 14. Danny Jones (for Lewis); 15. Stuart Grosvenor (for McGivern); GK. Lewis Fenney (not used).
Next Reserve Fixture
Saturday 5th September – MFC Reserve Division – HOME v Quorn (15:00)
