Blues record back-to-back victories
Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Arlesey Town 2 Arlesey Town recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since last November to lift them into mid-table in the BGB Division One Midlands. This first ever meeting between the clubs saw the Blues triumph despit
Sutton Coldfield Town 1 Arlesey Town 2
Arlesey Town recorded back-to-back victories for the first time since last November to lift them into mid-table in the BGB Division One Midlands.
This first ever meeting between the clubs saw the Blues triumph despite the Coles Lane outfit being fresh from an 8-0 victory at Woodford United.
Goalkeeper Martin Peat failed his fitness test allowing Jordan Houghton to continue in goal, while Shane Brown was suspended and Leon Gutzmore was not included in the squad having failed to recover from a knock sustained against Woodford.
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Conditions were far from perfect for the exposed pitch was buffeted by a swirling wind, so there was little for the purist to enjoy.
The turning points of the contest came immediately either side of the interval.
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Arlesey conceded a penalty in the 44th minute when Tom Moran brought down Jamille Matt only for Martin to pull the ball wide of the post.
Up to that point the contest had been fought out in midfield with neither side showing enough in attack to trouble the respective goalkeepers.
Arlesey were forced to shuffle their pack when Tawhid Juneja, who had struggled with his back throughout the half, failed to appear after the interval being substituted by Matthew Clarke.
Then, in the 51st minute, the home keeper Gemmell was dismissed for handling outside the box, Jamie Osborne blasting the ball home from the free-kick.
The decision came about as the keeper prevented a lob from the Blues' leading scorer from entering the net.
This galvanised the home side and they over-ran Arlesey who weathered the storm with some positive defence, clearing several scrambles in their area and two smart saves from Houghton.
Arlesey added their second in the 81st minute when Matt Kimani turned provider to cross to the far post for Arin Fehmi to head home.
The contest completely changed as Lee Allen struck the home crossbar from fully 25 yards, and Kimani rounded the home keeper but sliced the ball wide.
Sutton Coldfield were given a glimmer of hope two minutes from time when Houghton was beaten to the ball as he attempted to shepherd it out by Quiggan who ran into the area and slid the ball into the empty net.
Blues: Houghton, Bloss, Waldron, Moran, Juneja, Allen, Fehmi, Dillnutt, Pringle, Osborne, Kimani.
Subs: Clarke, Hernandes, Peat, Francis, Beaumont.
