The Marches 2 League

Newent B 3 Wotton C (4ths) 1

WOTTON-under-Edge C travelled to meet Newent B, on the back of an excellent result against higher-placed Ross-on-Wye last week.

The initial five minutes of play were a flurry of passes between both teams, with possession changing regular - ly as both sides got to grips with the damp, slow pitch.

Wotton were quicker to set - tle and started to drive the ball hard through the middle of the pitch, and then push out to their wider forwards, with several forays into the Newent circle.

Strong defence from New - ent kept the visitors at bay for the first 20 minutes, and Wotton continued to gather decent balls deep in their half, dispossessing New - ent forwards on every occa - sion, and then driving back through the agile and mobile half-back line.

Against the run of play, Newent launched an explora - tory shot to the outside of the goal.

With the Wotton defence dragged across from the op - posite side, the shot was unchallenged, and the first blood went to the home side.

After half-time, Wotton came out energised, and with some fresh legs off the subs bench.

Against a steady flow of Newent attacks, Wotton con - tinued to secure the ball in defence, with the central team of Alan Hooper and Brian Patterson, well sup - ported by Alan George and Richard Gunton.

Despite the repeated of - fensives, with Luke Messer, Martin Dove, Ollie Setter - field, Sam Butter and Nick Watt all working hard to secure possession and drive upfield, no goals came.

But against the run of play, Newent gathered a loose ball in the centre of Wotton’s de - fence, fired across to the Wot - ton keeper, Leo Wells, who stopped the shot with a slid - ing save.

The defence could not reach the rebound and, finding themselves 2-0 down, they needed to gather their forces.

They did and continued pressure was always going to be rewarded, with Wotton bundling a rebound straight back into the base of the Newent goal for James Cox to poach yet another quick reaction goal.

Despite holding that pres - sure to the end of the game, Newent managed to break back and secure a third goal with many of their players tired from holding back a vo - racious Wotton team.

Despite defeat, Wotton have a chance to build on this per - formance when they meet Lansdown C this Saturday.