Sidbury Utd 2, University 0 Fresha D and E Div 1

After such a poor team display last week manager Schofield and new coach and ex-City player Steve Flack had been giving the side a hard time all week and told the players what was expected of them while they are wearing the famous claret and blue. The players responded and put in a fabulous performance to inflict University’s first defeat of the season.

Sidbury came out of the blocks flying and stopped the away side from getting the ball down and playing, with the midfield three of Mike Benyon, Sam Seldon and Glenn Salter doing a fantastic job.

The first 20 minutes saw Sidbury in control. They passed the ball out from the back and kept it so well that the away side stopped trying to press high for fear of running out of steam - Sidbury’s Matt Channing and Richard Bacon kept the ball 100 per cent better than last week.

The first goal came in the 30th minute when Ash Small’s constant harrying and hard work won the ball, which fell to Dave Green on the right wing who whipped in a cross for new boy, ex Elmore player Benyon to volley into the net.

The second half saw Sidbury dominate, closing down all over the park and keeping the ball well. As the game wore on Uni became more ambitious but couldn’t find a way through. In the 85th min sub Sam Elstub chased down a lost cause and nicked the ball off the defender 30 yards from goal. It fell to Small who slid a great ball into the joint Jade Wok Man of Match Danny Green who was chopped down in the box and Sidbury had a penalty. Green stepped up and scored a well-deserved second, putting the game well out of reach of Uni.

Manager Schofield said: “I criticised every one of the lads before kick off, and not one of them sulked. They worked harder than ever and proved that with their ability and that work rate they will be hard to beat.”

“We need to do that week in week out if we are to achieve promotion. Next week Sidbury host Culm.”

Team rating:– Harvey 7, Preece 6, Channing 9, Bacon 9, Coombes 8, Benyon 9, Seldon 9, Salter 10, Small 9, Danny Green 10, Dave Green 8, Subs Churchill 5, Elstub 7