Town lost their unbeaten record on Saturday against an impressive Longwell Green Sports side. The visitors succumbed to two second half strikes but were still in with a shout until the home side made the points safe with a second goal in the 84th minute. For much of the game Sports were in the ascendancy with Town struggling to create pressure and chances.
The game started brightly for Town when in the 6th minute the Sports keeper, Josh Dempsey came out of his penalty to foil Jake Wright. The ball broke to Jack Newman but young centre forward, under pressure, was unable to lift ball over the committed keeper. Fortunately the appeals for a spot kick were waved away by the referee. On 25 minutes Reece Collyer’s defence splitting pass created a chance for Jake Wright but the forward’s under hit shot narrowly went just the wrong side of the upright. In the 28th minute Town’s keeper Callum Hotine saved Zach Feltham’s shot from the left hand side of the box. On the half hour the hosts again went close when a left side corner was turned just wide by Kieran Campbell. In the 34th minute they went even closer when Matt Brown’s curling shot from just outside box beat Hotine but hit the post. Just before the break Town’s Max Walker-Wiltshire was lucky not to be cautioned when he hauled down a Sports attacker. From the resultant free kick Zach Feltham saw his effort superbly tipped over bar by Hotine.
Half time Sports 0 Town 0
A minute into the second half Sports took the lead. Finn Burrell controlled the ball from left and fired past Hotine. As the half wore on Town strived hard to level but the Sports defence were proving difficult to break down. On 67 minutes Reece Collyer was setup by Jake Wright on the edge of box but his shot was well blocked. In the 80th minute Hotine again rescued his team saving bravely at the feet of Zach Feltham. On 84 minutes, with Town pressing for an equaliser, Sports made the game safe scoring a breakaway goal. A pass from the left found substitute Zach Tucker in the box and his shot into the bottom corner gave the heroic Hotine no chance. On 88 minutes a Town free kick picked out Sam McFarlane unmarked in the six yard box but his header flew agonisingly just over bar.
Sports saw out the added time to deservedly win for the first time this season. This afternoon’s result sees Town drop four places to thirteenth in the Division One table.
Town’s Man of the Match Callum Hotine.
Attendance 124
Report: Geoff Jackson