Stanway spoil Dragons start

With the dragons looking to make it 3 wins from 3 games current top of the table Stanway Rovers rolled into town for a local derby.

Both teams started off at a fair pace with neither being able to settle down and play in the early stages although it was Stanway who seemed to take the initiative and were a little hungrier in the tackle and pushed the home side onto the back foot as the game wore on with a good effort clipping the crossbar and another just edging wide.

At the other end Karl Andrade was unlucky with one effort that he failed to hit the target after creating a bit of space for himself.

Stanway made their pressure pay and opened the scoring after a ball was played out short by keeper Ringe and Wivenhoe failed to react to close down the shot which came in and nestled into the far post.

Wivenhoe thought they had equalised through Karl Andrade after an Anthony Wright shot but for the Stanway linesmans flag to be raised and the referee consulted him and then ruled the goal as offside.. Wivenhoe continued to look dangerous as the pace and power of Josh Milburn, Anthony Wright and Karl Andrade was causing problems for the Stanway back line but they dealt with it and frustration seemed to set in as Wivenhoe snatched at chances and couldnt create any clear cut chances although Stanway themselves had plenty of possesion and also created a few chances of their own.

The game then got a little bit messy and was very stop start as the football became a sideshow to a game of who can appeal the loudest (we didn't win that either). Anthony Wright found himself in the referees book for dissent after the linesman pointed out he had been on the receiving end of a derogatory comment.

This again didn't help to settle Wivenhoe heads (and possibly played into Stanways hands) as they doubled their lead after Josh Sidki was caught out as he tried to see the ball out and Wivenhoe looked all at sea. Dan Morgan came on to replace Hasan Ayten as the home side tried to change things around a little and turn things around.

Half time saw more changes as Jamie Baker, Lewis Blanchett and Anthony Wright were replaced to change shape as Joel Shruvington, Ryan Gooch and Evan Culmer were bought on and Wivenhoe had a few questions asked of them in the team talk.

The response was that Wivenhoe were a revitalised side and immediately had more bite about them and managed to get more possession on the ball. Maybe nerves still played their part as despite having possession Wivenhoe far too often gave the ball away and Stanway were always potentially dangerous. Wivenhoe had really upped their work rate and this spilled over as Ben Fowler went into a tackle on ex-dragon Michael Schofield with the latter staying down for a while as play continued (both sides having possession) before the ball was kicked out just as Schofield jumped up right on cue and the the ref went into his pocket again duly giving the Dragons captain a caution. Hasan Ayten returned to replace Josh Milburn just after the hour mark.

As time wore on Wivenhoe threw caution to the wind and again the shape was changed as Jamie Baker returned to replace Jake Hearn (with Wivenhoe going to a back 3) and this meant even more possession in the Stanway half although frustratingly again a break through couldnt be found. After a corner Wivenhoe thought they had scored as it seemed as though the ball was over the line (granted I am not the best angle to see but plenty nearer than me said they thought it had - including one Stanway player who found it humorous) but the ref didnt give it and consulted the Stanway linesman who also didnt give it.

In a final throw of the dice Wivenhoe took Karl Andrade off (replaced by Anthony Wright) and Ben Fowler (replaced by Lewis Blanchett) and went to someting that resembled a 2-1-2-4-1 formation (theres a new one for all you tacticians) and were throwing everything at Stanway who were working hard.

Stanway to their credit started to use a little 'game management' and when winning possesion up high were heading for corners, taking time trying to see the game out but with 5 minutes remaining Lewis Blanchett linked up and fired a shot into the far corner (from the left side of the Stanway box) to pull one back and make for a dramatic finale.

Sadly for Wivenhoe they couldnt grab another however no one could accuse them of not going for it as at times they had 8 players in and around the Stanway area yet frustratingly failed to deliver the ball on a few occasions when a step over and trick was preferred over a simple 'put it in the mix'.. and then the referee blew the final whistle as time ran out.