Match Report : Uxbridge Stoke the Fire

They say seven days are a long time in football, and so it proved on Saturday as Uxbridge got back to winning ways - following the disappointing FA Trophy exit last week - with a 2-1 victory over Basingstoke Town at a sun drenched Honeycroft. George Moore returned from suspension up front, with Liam Prior-Tack dropping down to the bench.

The match started with a bang for the home side, when just two minutes on the clock, George Moore already making an impact, played a fine ball over the Basingstoke defence sending Frank Keita clear, and the forward made no mistake firing past Simon Grant in the visitors goal to give the Reds an early advantage with his first goal for the club. Uxbridge continued to threaten throughout the first half. A well-placed corner was nearly converted by Bailey, whose shot was blocked, then just before the half hour Cole Brown did well to play a one-two into the box, but could only poke the ball wide on the stretch as Grant came out to close the angle down. It looked like the lively Jo Lawal - whose pace and trickery on the right flank were a constant thorn in Basingstoke's side - had doubled the lead on 38 minutes as he cut inside and curled a fine shot that was destined for the top corner, only for Grant to get a hand to it at full stretch and tip the ball over for a corner. Basingstoke had their own good headed chance soon after, after a strong challenge went unpunished in midfield the ball found its way wide and a fine cross saw Liam Ferdinand’s header well dealt with by Laurie Shala. However the reprieve was short lived, as on 41 minutes a whipped-in free kick from the left wing found the head of an unmarked Scott Armsworth, who headed the ball home to make the score 1-1. A carbon copy goal of the late equaliser at Tiverton a couple of weeks ago, and another deflating one coming so soon before the break.

HT 1-1

Uxbridge fans needn't have worried though as Uxbridge came out positively in the second half, and were rewarded with another quick goal. In the 48th minute, a ball into the box evaded the Basingstoke defence. With a defender stumbling, it fell nicely for Toby Nnadozie who fired the ball home to restore the Reds lead. The visitors though were still well in the match and they had a gilt edged chance to equalise just five minutes later, when a fine run from Cheick Sylla was crossed low evading everyone, CJ Fearn was on hand to clear with the Basingstoke forwards bearing down. However the home side were proving a real handful, Nams Nwachuku broke clear soon after, and only a last ditch tackle, sending his shot into the side netting prevented Uxbridge extending their lead. Grant in the Basingstoke goal was having a fine game, and he was called into action again soon after , blocking a Keita shot after a deep corner dropped nicely for the forward. Both teams had chances to alter the scoreline in the final stages, Moore and Nwachuku both going close without troubling Grant though. With Basingstoke Town also pushing for an equaliser, it made for a pulsating finish, with the Red Army in full voice - they were almost silenced in stoppage time though as Sylla made a strong run to the edge of the Reds box, but he couldn’t keep his shot down, and it was Uxbridge who took all three points - their 3rd win and all by the same scoreline of 2-1 - more of the same please when Hungerford visit us on Tuesday evening.

FT 2-1

Att 404

Uxbridge: Shala, Brown, Bocarro, Fearn, Bailey, Nnadozie (Giamattei), Lawal (Thorpe), Rush, Nwachuku (Osu), Moore, Keita (Prior-Tack). Sub not used: Hobbs

Man of the Match Jo Lawal with Physio Joe Peacock sponsored by http://EandADesigns.co.uk