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Team captains Ryan Peake (Arundel) and Byron Napper (Loxwood)
In awkward blustery conditions both teams provided the crowd of 135 with a very entertaining game of end to end football with both sides creating many goal scoring opportunities.
Arundel settled quickly into the game and took the lead on 6 minutes when Dave Herbert caught the Loxwood defence napping when he fired home from 14 yards after some good play from Asa Nicholson. On 20 minutes Loxwood’s Sam Beard worked himself into a good position but fired high over the bar from the edge of the area, on 22 minutes Ollie Gill found himself unmarked on the far post from a Sam Beard cross but tamely headed wide when he really should have hit the target from 6 yards. Arundel’s Dave Herbert nearly got a second goal on 26 minutes when he narrowly shot wide from 14 yards after some impressive Arundel build up play. However, only 12 minutes later Arundel did increase their lead to 0-2 when Barney Boutwood marked his return to the starting line-up, with a superb angled strike from a Dave Herbert freekick.
Loxwood continued to work Arundel’s defence, and on 40 minutes they nearly reduced the deficit when Mark Caves effort was cleared off the line by Dion Jarvis. This appeared to cause slight panic in the Arundel defence which resulted in Loxwood missing 2 guilt edged chances before the break, firstly Sam Beard broke clear from Loxwood’s left side to fire wide of the post with just James Fernandes to beat in the Arundel goal, then with virtually the last kick of the half Cecil Jee broke clear of his marker only to be denied by a quality save from Fernandes.
HT 0-2
Arundel started well in the second half and with only 2 minutes gone had a very good penalty appeal turned down by the referee when Dave Herbert certainly looked to have been fouled inside the area. On 52 minutes Alex Biggs went close to scoring a 3rd with a good angled shot from a Dave Herbert pass, but unfortunately his effort could only find the side netting. Loxwood’s Mark Cave looked certain to score on 52 minutes, but he fired his fierce shot against the crossbar from close range with the goal at his mercy. Minutes later it was impressive Sam Beard who went close to scoring with a good angled shot, but his effort was superbly blocked on the line by Arundel. On 67 minutes Loxwood’s Mark Cave must have thought he had scored with a firm close range header from a good right sided cross, however, he could only look in disbelief seeing James Fernandes produce the superb reflex save to keep out his effort.
These missed opportunities ultimately proved costly for Loxwood as Arundel then took the initiative for the final 20 minutes, and should have scored a couple more goals. Firstly Barney Boutwood put Dion Jarvis clean through on goal, but he fluffed his lines when firing over with just Sam Smith to beat. Dave Herbert then looked certain to score but he rushed his shot and hit the crossbar from only 12 yards out.
FT 0-2
Arundel now play Egham Town FC at home in the next round on 2nd September 3pm kick off
Loxwood have kindly given me the link below to view some action shots from the game.
1. James Fernandes
2. Nathan DaCosta
3. Ash Hunter
4. Lewis Jenkins
5. Ryan Peake (Capt)
6. Rory Biggs (65 mins)
7. Alex Biggs
8. Dion Jarvis
9. Barney Boutwood (89 mins)
10. Dave Herbert (80 mins)
11. Asa Nicholson
12. Scott Tipper (89 mins)
14. Liam DaCosta
15. Harry Russell (80 mins)
16. Jordan Jones (65 mins)
17. Jordan Dudas
Goal Scorers - Dave Herbert (6 mins), Barney Boutwood (38 mins)
Attendance - 135
Yellow Cards - Rory Biggs
Red Cards - none