Boxted travelled to Glemsford this week with Elliott and Jason Gray returning to the back three with Andy Hart reverting to left wing back and McCarthy playing in his more familiar central midfield berth.
What can be said about this game, at times Boxted were sublime and at others times ridiculous. Boxted started the game well and were dominating all the early play and their football at times was first rate…going forward. Hume was having time on the ball in his dropped off position and he fed a ball through to Francis who beat the defence to see his shot just saved by the keeper one on one. The second time he was in this position he did not disappoint and tucked the ball over the on-rushing keeper. McCarthy and Macklin were now dictating the midfield and chances were being created unfortunately for Bradbury his touch had deserted him otherwise he would have been in on a goal a couple of times. The ball was also flying in from crosses from Trueman and Hart and there was confusion in the Glemsford back line on several occasions.
Then from nowhere Boxted pressed the self destruct button first king was out muscled on the wing and then after Taff could only tip the shot onto the post nobody reacted to the loose ball apart from the home player who hit the ball. The self destruct button and seemed to be pressed for 5 minutes, but then near the end of the half a ball was played through which was missed by the defender and Francis controlled the ball and cracked in a left foot half volley into the net for a great individual effort.
Half time, really Boxted should have been out of sight and this was reinforced by the management duo at half time.
The second half a perfect start and surely game over, a long throw by Macklin was flicked on by Hume and Bradders headed into the empty net on the back post. Boxted then controlled the game until 20 minutes to go when the self destruct button was truly pressed. A rash tackle by Gray resulted in a penalty that was converted. Lawson and Andy Driver came on but they could not halt Boxted descending into chaos, marking, communication and passion had seemed to have left Suffolk. The home side had men over on the right and the ball was put into the box and the marking was non-existent for the equaliser.
Price came on and looked lively and his extra impetuous spurred on the team and Boxted re-took the lead from Bradbuy with a great low shot form the edge of the box.
The weather then deteriorated along with Boxted’s performance, and the investable happened when Glemsford equalised again from a ball into the box which should have been dealt with. At this point there only looked like one winner although Price came close Glemsford were in the ascendency. The back line was breached again but Taff was off his line quick enough to save. The minute the final whistle went a surreal moment when the rain finally stopped, but disappointment could be seen across the team and the management who had looked on in disbelief on to how so much promise had ended up.
The positives, we did not lose which looked likely at the end, Bradbury got two goals which is never a bad thing and Hume and Trueman looked a real threat in setting up chances at times. The stand out performer again though was Francis, who could once again hold his head high and he is showing the team the never die attack which is sadly lacking at times
The reaper did not write this report and hopefully this is last time I feel so depressed writing a match report
