FINAL SCORE:

Modbury........................6 Tantamount FC........... 3

Report by Michael Pilcher

The four-week break didn't have as much a detrimental effect as everyone might have expected, but some first-half errors allowed second-placed Modbury to claim victory. After braving a couple of initial attacks, Modbury had the lead within 2 minutes as defensive gaps down the left led to a well-placed shot beating Spencer at his far post. They extended their lead within a minute, a simple shot again from the left finding its way through Spencer's legs. With five minutes gone and the Mount 2-0 down, they pulled a goal back to give some hope. Pilcher intercepted a loose pass and played a first-time ball to Moody, whose shot from just outside the area beat the keeper and crawled over the line. Just as it looked as they might get back into the game, two goals before half-time put the game beyond Tantamount’s reach. At half-time, they were 4-1 down.

A new look second half line-up went forward with greater purpose but still found themselves further behind within two minutes, another shot from the left making it 5-1. Cue James Rose to score the goal of the season so far: from the resulting kick-off, captain Charman played the ball out to Rose and his shot from just inside his own half flew into the bottom left corner, the keeper not even moving. The side played as a tighter unit and were getting it forward more, Ben Howarth having a half chance go just wide after hassling the opposition deep inside their own half. After several good saves from Spencer to keep the score down, an opposition striker was given time and space to fire a shot into the bottom corner for a sixth. Another whitewash looked inevitable until Olly Howarth grabbed a goal on his debut to add a touch of respectability to the score line. There were accusations of handball by Jacobs in the build-up but it didn't matter as Olly took advantage to finish with aplomb. Spencer made some more super saves, including one fierce goal-bound shot that he tipped over. One late shot came back off the post with Spencer beaten, but 6-3 it stayed.

Moody grabbed his first goal

LINE-UP: Spencer; B.Howarth, Pilcher, Jacobs; Moody SUBS: Rose, Charman, O.Howarth

SCORERS: Moody 5, Rose 11, O.Howarth 14

Manager's Comments:

"We were a bit wary after the long break but we played well, especially in the second half. Modders got his first goal, which he took very well, and that can only help his confidence. He's been playing well and just needed that first goal. We were a bit rusty to start with and James was annoyed about that second goal, but it was our first game back and there were bound to be errors. We allowed them plenty of space but closed things down in the second and looked tighter. With Sunday Session next week, we need to watch ourselves defensively. I managed to miss our second and third goals, which is very irritating! I was told Jimbo's came straight from the kick-off, while Olly's involved a handball from Alex in the build-up. Olly looks a great player, he has all the attributes that you need in 5-a-side, and can add competition to the frontline."