Eltham Progress Reserves 5 - 2 Lombard Phoenix Reserves

First Half

It was a good first game of the season for Eltham, within 5 minutes of the start of the game Eltham were awarded a free kick which skipper Michael Knox executed with great technical ability lifting the ball over the flapping Lombard keeper hitting the underside of the crossbar before crossing the line. For the next 20 minutes Eltham pushed forward for a second which they rightly deserved; when Dan cut in from the left hand side and let rip with a right footed pile driver only for it to crash back of the crossbar but lucky for Eltham Ade was on cue to poke the ball over the line with a somewhat superman diving header. The last minutes of the half Eltham seemed to relax and let Lombard get into the game, Lombard started to get some confidence passing the ball around comfortably and challenging for balls in the air and just on the stroke of half time a long goal kick from the Lombard keeper was missed judged by the Eltham centre backs allowing the Lombard striker through on goal which Lee did well to save but unfortunately the ricochet ball went straight to a Lombard player who had an open goal at his mercy and made it 2-1 at half time.

Second Half

After some inspiring words from manager Alan Ruggles Eltham came out in the second half rejuvenated and looking for their third but Lombard came out fighting as well but were no match for us and were finally beaten when Nick Harris collected a poor clearance from the Lombard keeper and on the half-volley smashed a shot that lobbed the keeper from more than 30 yards out. All this hard work was short lived when Lombard pegged us back straight away from kick off with a long ball beating the Eltham centre backs again and the Lombard striker going through on goal again and making no mistake this time to make it 3-2. The next ten minutes Eltham had to dig deep and perform with Lombard on the ascendancy after their goal they sensed a come back but all that fire they had was extinguished when a routine clearance from left back Daniel Mwanza was then flicked on by Daniel Stoddart for Nick to go clean through on goal giving the keeper a few step overs putting him on the floor, Nick then comfortably walked round the keeper and slotted the ball into the empty net. A few minutes later Lombard were caught napping when Michael took a quick throw in over the centre backs for to put Nick through on goal to superbly finish the game with a hat trick with a great half volley from an acute angle. The last minute of the game from then on was just routine from Eltham being strong and mopping everything up at the back and comfortably coming out 5-2 winners.

Written By Michael ‘Skipper’ Knox

Man Of The Match - Nick Harris