Malmesbury Victoria 1 Shortwood 0 – UHL Hellenic League
By Jim Cunneen
It doesn’t get any easier for Shortwood with so many players missing through illness and injury and it is a testament to the spirit in the club that they managed to get two sides out on Saturday – including some that were not in truth fit enough to play.
Wood battled hard and lost to a solitary goal just after the hour and although Wood created chances they will be grateful to Jacob Muir in goal who thoroughly deserved his man of the match award.
Wood should have taken the lead in the first minute when Jake Rhodes hit a chance just past the post and the opening period was certainly fast and furious Rhodes again went close before Archer missed two glorious chances for the Vics with misplaced free headers. The first half was even as both sides attacked with abandon and Wood’s best chances came as Earle had a shot blocked and a home defender shanked a ball from Harper Emerson against his own post.
Tosdevine replaced the unwell Rhodes at half time before Muir came into his own saving a shot from Smith at close range and then saving a header from Archer at full length. Wood were under pressure with a stream of crosses before Vics took the lead just after the hour. A raking ball found Smith, at least 5 yards offside, who ran on but Muir tipped his shot over but from the resultant corner Wood failed to clear and Archer shot home through a ruck of players. Vics probably deserved their lead but the manner of it was harsh. Wood pushed on and Tunnicliff forced keeper Langley into a fine parrying save with Dan Wright just failing to squeeze the ball home. Wood spent the rest of the game virtually camped in Vics half but the closest thy came was an Earle shot that was inches wide.
Wood have two more home games this week, Newent on Tuesday (7.45pm) and Southam on Saturday, 3pm,
Shortwood: Muir, Kieran Marks (Wright 68), Harper Emerson, Louis Peyton, Nathan Marks, Tunnicliff, Earle, Pepa, Odia Coly (Colliver 80), Rhodes (Tosdevine 45), Eakers (King 56).
Star man: Jacob Muir.