Capel Plough 1 Achilles 2 24/2/18
The largest crowd of the season turned out on a bitterly cold afternoon to watch the visitors take the points after a hard fought victory against a resilient home side. Middlebrook shot wide for the home team but most of the early play was at the other end as Achilles went close to opening the scoring several times. Home keeper Beal saved twice from Gavin Vanoene before Ryland fired wide with a freekick. Tempers frayed with a melee involving several players ended with each side receiving a caution before defender Barnes turned a cross into his own net to put the visitors in front with 20 minutes played. Hillyard hit the crossbar with a freekick with Van Oene having a shot saved before he headed home a Hillyard cross for the second goal after 38 minutes.
After the break the home side played much better and after Jackson had shot wide Alderson brought a good save from Chaplin while at the other end Beal saved from Hillyard who was clean through before the same player had a shot tipped over. Alderson fired into the corner after a neat passing move opened up the visitors defence with five minutes left to set up a tense finish but despite pushing forward in numbers it was the visitors who took the points after a fast and furious game well controlled by referee Rob Kennedy.
Report by Bob Morrison
