Reds Hang on in Hampshire

Horndean 2

Rudi Blankson (89')

Brandon Chebby (90+1')

Uxbridge 3

CJ Fearn (18')

Dernell Wynter (26')

Andrio Brandao (73')

After the short trip over to Hayes on Tuesday evening, Uxbridge made one of the longer trips this season down to Hampshire to face Horndean at Five Heads Park on Saturday afternoon. With plenty of travelling support heading south on the supporters coach, and the sun shining, the omens were good - especially as in their only previous meeting in December the Deans had been dispatched 8-0 at Honeycroft. Captain CJ Fearn returned to the defence and new signing from Carshalton Darnell Goather-Braithwaite made his debut for the Reds.

The ground at Horndean has a rather pronounced slope, but Uxbridge - kicking up the hill in the first half - would though make light of the undulating surface. On just 2 minutes Ada Okorogheye proved he was going to be a thorn in the home defences side by working some space on the edge of the box, but was unable to keep his shot down. With Uxbridge dominating the possession it was something of a surprise that the opening goal came from a set piece, a free kick was whipped into the Horndean penalty box and wasn’t dealt with, CJ Fearn was quickest to react and he bundled the ball into the net, with the defender on the line only able to help it on its way in. Four minutes later it was almost 2 as a throw into the box was flicked on to Goather-Braithwaite, whose superb shot on the turn was met by an equally superb save by Cameron Scott in the Horndean goal, to push the ball onto the bar and away to safety. The reprieve was short lived however, as on 26 minutes Dernell Wynter did brilliantly on the left wing to beat his man, he carried on his run into the box, and unleashed a fine shot into the top corner of the net and stanchion. Just after the half hour Wynter went close again, as he curled a shot just past the far post with Scott stranded. The home side struggled to make any inroads into the visitors defence as Uxbridge controlled the match and a 2-goal advantage into the break.

HT 2-0

The second half followed a similar pattern, with the Reds enjoying plenty of possession whilst keeping Horndean at arms length. On 53 minutes the lively Wynter got through, but the ball would not sit down as it ran down the slope and his shot went over. Ten minutes later an Uxbridge free kick was fired in by Massimo Giamattei, which Scott managed to grab at the second attempt as the visitors forwards closed in. The first real danger of any note from the home side arrived on 70 minutes, as Horndean finally broke through the reds rearguard, but Fearn was on hand to get back and snuff out the danger. Seconds later it could have been a third, only for Scott to pull off another excellent block from a close range shot after a great cross from the left by Okorogheye was met by James Taylor, but the keeper's outstretched hand kept the score down to 2. Minutes later though it was 3 as the tireless Andrio Brandao, got onto a loose ball after an Uxbridge break, and he fired home from the edge of the box, with Scott left flat footed, a fine finish to surely wrap up the three points. From then on though Horndean came more into the game as Uxbridge made some substitutions and started to sit back on their lead. A warning came on 80 minutes when a low dipping shot by Adam Payce went inches over the bar. The home side did get one back on 89 minutes when a free kick from wide left from Rudy Blankson, missed everyone in the box and went straight into the far corner. Inexplicably after cruising through the match, Uxbridge now looked nervous and unable to hold onto the ball. To their credit Horndean sensed this and in the first minute of stoppage time they grabbed a second, when a long ball saw Brandon Chebby find himself through on goal and he slotted home, to leave the visiting fans nervously checking their watches.

The comeback was not to be, however and the Reds saw the game out to take the three points, and with an aggregate score of 11-2 in the two matches with the Deans this season, can look forward to the remaining 8 matches of the season with confidence.

Next up Rayners Lane are the visitors to Honeycroft on Saturday 22 March

FT 3-2

Att 192

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