25/03/2017
A goal-fest at Mill Lane saw BAFC run out comfortable 8-1 winners against in-form Stonham Aspal. Stonham had beaten top of the table Shotley the previous week, but BAFC maintained their unbeaten record in the league in style to move within 3 points of Shotley – with 3 games remaining in hand over their rivals.
The Rams started the game rather slowly and it was Stonham that were making the best of the opening 10 minutes. However, after a Mikey Sneddon corner evaded everyone and ended up in the net, BAFC never looked back and took complete control of the game in what was one of their best performances of the season. Sneddon, who had 4 assists to his name the week before, was once again having a very good game and BAFC soon went 2-0 up when another of his corners was expertly finished on the half volley by skipper, Stephen Brown. With the Rams looking dangerous on every corner, it was soon 3-0 after yet another Sneddon corner was converted by centre back Ross Harvey from close range. The remainder of the first half belonged to BAFC with Stonham struggling to cope with some very good attacking football. Brad Austin, Aurimas Plioplys, Sneddon, Matty Lucas and Daniel Claxton were all involved in much of the good play, supported by Richie Gibson and Adam Peskett in the middle of the park. The gamble to play an attacking line-up was proving a success for the Rams and if it wasn’t for the Stonham keeper making a number of good saves, the score-line could have been much more.
The only downside to the first half was not converting the chances and losing Rico Stanojevic to another nasty knee injury. We wish him all the best, it’s not been a great start to life at BAFC for him, but his time will certainly come next season and we hope he recovers well from the injury. In the games he has played he has made a very good impression and will be an asset once fit.
The second half was once again BAFC’s. The game continued to be played at a good tempo with the Rams moving the ball well every time they ventured forward. Further second half goals from Austin, Lucas, substitute Adam Webster, Claxton and Sneddon condemned Stonham to an 8-1 defeat; their goal coming from a cross which caught Connor Banthorpe out with the wind and sun causing problems and dropping in off his far post. The pick of the Rams second half goals came from Claxton. After some good initial link up play in the middle of the pitch, Claxton collected the ball on the edge of the area and thundered home into the top corner, giving the Stonham keeper no chance. Webster’s goal pushed it very close. He converted a very good cross from debutant, Damien Pearson, into the far corner, but Claxton doesn’t score too many and it was one for him to savour.
BAFC have certainly moved up a gear since a poor showing a few week’s back against Somersham, scoring 14 in the next 2 games and conceding just the one. This week all the players were once again on top form and Stonham struggled to cope. Sneddon was the catalyst for much of the good play and is now starting to produce some very good performances and alongside Austin, was a real handful for Stonham.
There are still a number of games to go for BAFC and the pressure is still on, but this week the job was completed to a very good standard and if it wasn’t for the Stonham keeper, it could have been more. Stonham are a good side and have proved that this season with some very good results and pushing us close in our previous 2 games, so credit has to go to all the players for this week’s win.
Next week we face another tough game away at Bramford Road (our bogey team).
BAFC TEAM:
Banthorpe; Peskett, Lucas, Harvey, Robinson, Brown (c); Gibson, Stanojevic, Sneddon; Austin, Plioplys
SUBS USED:
Pearson, Claxton, Webster
GOALS:
Austin 1, Lucas 1, Brown 1, Harvey 1, Claxton 1, Sneddon 2, Webster 1.
MAN OF THE MATCH:
Sneddon
