Match Report: Moore the Merrier
- tricky291
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
With this match against Tiverton, variously being described as “must-win” and “the most important game since the play off final” - there were a few nerves around Honeycroft before kick off. The mood was lifted somewhat by the news that Liam Prior-Tack was back in the line up, following a few games at Hayes & Yeading Utd, there was also a start for new right back Avan Jones, who had signed from Enfield Town.
Uxbridge started in positive fashion against the team currently sitting bottom of the league - and were ahead as early as the 5th minute when a pinpoint ball over the top from Bernie Tanner released George Moore. The talismanic forward showed ice-cold composure, breaking clear and firing past the Tiverton keeper via the inside of the post to make it 1-0. The Reds then looked to kill the game early. Moore turned provider in the 7th minute, laying the ball off to Ada Okorogheye whose curling effort was spectacular, only to be matched by a full-stretch save from Ross in the Tiverton goal. Moore then struck the woodwork for the first time with a looping header in the 9th minute.Despite the pressure, Tiverton found a lifeline in the 19th minute. Some slack defending from The Reds, saw some neat interplay into the box from Tiverton, and Daniel Koita was on hand to bundle the ball home from close range to level the scores. It should have been two just a minute later, as Tiverton got their heads up, and Gabriel Billington fired a fine shot inches past Marco Underwood’s far post. The Yellows now with tails up, were causing no end of problems for Uxbridge - and a goalmouth scramble on 22 minutes somehow ended with Uxbridge clearing their lines - as most behind the goal expected to see the net bulge at any moment. The Reds didn't waver though and kept the attacking intent going - In the 36th minute, a free-kick delivery caused chaos in the Tiverton box. A free kick was knocked down to Harry Rush on the edge of the box his low shot was partially cleared to the edge of the area where Moore was waiting to lash a thunderous volley into the back of the net, sending Uxbridge into the break with a 2-1 lead.
HT 2-1
Moore was still causing issues for Tiverton as the second half got underway, with a fine curling shot being well held by Ross in the 53rd minute. The complexion of the match changed in the 58th minute though when Josh Boorn was shown a second yellow card for a late challenge. Down to ten men for the final half-hour, Uxbridge needed to regroup, and keep cool heads to preserve their lead. Tiverton threw everything at the hosts, but they found Underwood in inspired form. The Uxbridge keeper produced a sequence of world-class saves, including a fingertip stop to deny a goal-bound header from Asa Hall and a sprawling save from a late curling effort from Billington that appeared destined for the far corner. At the other end, Okorogheye was a tireless outlet, twice coming close to extending the lead after solo runs that left the Tiverton defense trailing. Tiverton again caused panic in the defence, and another goalmouth scramble on 70 minutes resulted in the ball finally being cleared by a combination of last ditch defending and fine goalkeeping again. There was a moment of late controversy in the 83rd minute when Moore tucked away what appeared to be his hat-trick goal, only for the linesman to raise a highly debated offside flag - the ball rebounding off the Tiverton defender seemingly playing him onside - however the officials saw things differently and the goal did not stand - captain CJ Fearn earning a yellow card for making his feelings known to the referee. With 5 minutes to go Underwood again produced a superb pair of saves with firstly a low block from Hall, and then seconds later another outstanding save at full stretch to keep out Zak Williams superb effort. In the dying seconds, Moore nearly capped the afternoon with a "Goal of the Season" contender, attempting a lob from what looked like 70 yards out as Tiverton pushed forward - The ball beat the stranded keeper but bounced up and rattled the underside of the crossbar, before being gathered by the grateful Ross. It would have capped what was already a Man of the Match performance by Moore, but it wasn’t to be - however Uxbridge had held on to pick up a pivotal three points ahead of next week's tough looking trip to Farnham.
FT 2-1
Att: 288
Uxbridge: Underwood, Jones, Bocarro, Fearn, Tanner, Perez-Duah, Boorn, Rush (Nnadozie), Okorogheye (Montague), Moore, Prior-Tack
