Eversley Football Club

A scintillating Sam Scully hat trick failed to rescue the first team who went down 4- 3 on a day when suicidal defending cost the Boars dear.

The tone of the match was set as early as the second minute when, after losing possession our  defense failed to clear their lines. Dan Taylor`s weak central clearance fell kindly for South Park`s front man Kieran Lavery, who smashed the ball into the top left hand corner to put South Park 1-0 up. For the next 20 minutes it was all South Park as we failed to get to grips with the pace of the game. Only a couple off target half chances on the break from Sam Scullly caused the home side any concern. Matt Stamp replaced Mark Morgan (calf injury) and immediately tested the home keeper after latching on to Ross Hogston`s through ball. Our discipline in truth should have seen us down to 10 men as Dan Taylor raised his arms to his opponent - fortunately for Twiggy the referee showed only yellow. From the free kick a neat one two and a first time cross was met superbly by Chris Smith, who sent his first time shot in to the corner giving keeper Groves no chance. South Park 2-0 up and cruising with half time looming.

The first of many twists in this unpredictable game came just seconds before the interval – Craig Smith beat his full back on the left flank and found Sam Scully on the penalty spot. Seemingly crowded out Scully`s quick feet made a gap and the ball was in the back of the net to make it 2-1 at half time, and a life line we didn`t really deserve.

Twiggy was removed at half time – before he was sent off – and although not 100% fit Kieron Thorn replaced him to bolster the centre of the park with Skeddy dropping in to a join him and Hoggie in a re shuffled 3-5-2. Some harsh words exchanged in the visitors dressing room seemed to pay dividends as a minute after the break it was 2-2. A trademark Scully free kick from a tight angle 20 yards out gave the keeper no chance.

This was a day when shooting ourselves in the foot was too frequent an occurrence for us as defensive frailties again let South Park back in front. On a sticky surface, and with South Park snapping at every tackle this was not an afternoon for the purist. Instructions were to get the ball in the right areas early and turn South Park`s defense around. For some reason this was failing to sink in as Spilsbury tried to play out of our own half with a ball out to Worboys. One touch too many saw him dispossessed and seconds later Karl Parker had restored South Park`s lead.

To our credit we rallied and enjoyed our best spell of the game. Scully clipped the outside post from 10 yards and Worboys screwed his shot wide after Craig Smith had found him unmarked at the far post. At the other end South Park were now relying on breakaways but could have wrapped the game up on 75 minutes when Lavery rounded Luca Groves, only to lose his footing with the goal gaping. Matt Hopton replaced Craig Smith as we went for broke and the mounting pressure was pushing the South Park defense deeper and deeper. For the first time in the game the home side looked vulnerable and the inevitable equaliser came just minutes before full time. Wil Neville’s fee kick was cleared back to him and his cross come shot was met at the far post for Scully to complete his hat trick with the easiest of tap ins.

Just when you thought there wasn`t time for a last twist South park won a free kick near the corner flag, Neviile adjudged to pull back Lavery. A whipped in cross was missed by everyone except Lavery who made no mistake to head home and deservedly take the points for the home side. On a day where good performances were somewhat scarce credit to Sam, Wiggy and Skeddy who gave everything for the cause.

Team: Groves, Wiggins, Spilsbury (capt), W Neville, D Taylor (Thorn), Morgan (Stamp), Hogston, Worboys, Smith (Hopton), Sked, Scully