Stalemate in the Sun: Uxbridge 0-0 Dorchester
- tricky291
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Step 3 football finally arrived at Honeycroft on Saturday, after what felt like a long wait following Uxbridge’s play off final victory back in May.
It was a new look reds side who took the field, with no less than seven new players in the starting line-up – manager Danny Edwards no doubt hoping they would gel together quickly, with a tough start against a Dorchester side who finished last season in 5th place, losing out in the play offs to eventual winners AFC Totton.
Uxbridge saw plenty of the ball early on, and with it being a hot day with barely a cloud in the sky, keeping the ball and not chasing your tails would be of the utmost importance. There was very little goalmouth action of note at either end for the first twenty minutes, although Casey Bocarro forced a full-length clearance from visiting keeper Josey Brian Casa-Grande, with one of his trademark crosses on 24 minutes. New forward Rio Connell was proving a handful for the Dorchester back line though, keeping them honest with a number of lively runs ensuring they were unable to settle all afternoon. Bocarro again creating a good chance just on the half hour but fizzed a low shot just past the post with Casa-Grande beaten. Midfielder Liam Tack was showing some real class in midfield, and he fashioned a chance for the home side on 34 minutes, but his shot on the turn also going just past the post. Dorchester had a great chance on 36 minutes when a quick break caught out the home side, but Luke Roberts low shot clipped the post and went wide as new Uxbridge keeper Mark Scott closed down the angle. Just before the break Cole Brown playing on the right for the Reds did well to get to the byline, his looping cross was actually dipping under the bar, but Casa-Grande was just able to claw the ball away to safety under pressure from the Uxbridge attackers closing in.
HT 0-0
The second half saw Dorchester with more of the ball, and they had the two best chances of the half. On 66 minutes a fine cross evaded the Uxbridge defence, leaving Harvey James Daniel Wright unmarked in the box, however he was unable to keep his header down and the ball went harmlessly over the bar. Two minutes later the visitors could again have led, from a quick break but despite good work from Luke Pardoe to find Tom Smith he also fired over when well placed. For their part Uxbridge looked comfortable without every looking overly threatening, midfielder Harry Rush forcing Casa-Grande into a low save on 70 minutes being one of the highlights.
All in all, a fairly low key affair, but without a number of key players, and this being our first match at this level, most in the ground will have been pleased with a point, and with plenty of positives to take, Uxbridge can build on this solid start. Starting with a short turnaround as we make the trip to face Bracknell Town on Monday evening.
FT 0-0
Att 325
Player of the Match: Rio Connell
Uxbridge:Scott, Bocarro, Brown (Hobbs), Connell, Fearn, Hamstead (Osu), Nnadozie (Sole), Prior-Tack (Deru), Rowe (Lawal), Rush, Tanner
