UBFC 1 v 2 MONTPELIER VILLA
Rowland 34 mins
Sat 4 Jan 2020
Macron SCFL Div 2
at UBMF
Our unbeaten start to the League season came to a disappointing and frustrating end as League leaders Montpelier Villa took the 3 points for the win from our eagerly awaited top of the table clash.
A still, mild afternoon with a winters sun shining down the UBMF pitch greeted our visitors and largest crowd of the season. One change in the Beeding starting 11 as Ben Ward came in for the absent Tim Tapscott.
A couple of strange decisions had already gone before a hotly disputed penalty for a push was coolly converted by Chris Grant to give the visitors an early lead. With 80 mins still to play, it was hardly a game changer, though it certainly gave Villa an early advantage. Not the time or place to comment on Refs decisions, haven’t done all season, so not going to start now, and things have a habit of balancing themselves out over the campaign, but the lads frustration was totally understandable.
Good chances to draw level for Kris and Ben went begging, before we were to go 2 down on the half hour. Our defending from a diagonal ball wasn’t great but young Luke French did well to hold off challenges to squeeze the ball home from a tight angle.
A determined Beeding were to hit back quickly when a good move was completed with a cross to the back post from Jonny and Jamie Rolo composed himself to neatly slip the ball home. 1-2 and Beeding back in it.
The second half was a tight affair as both teams largely cancelled each other out, defenders kept attackers at bay, and it was only really free kicks and corners that posed any real threat. With Kris, Callum and Dan nursing injuries we looked a bit restricted in options to go gun-ho. Jamie and JT were at the heart of our best efforts going forward, and just as we were building up a head of steam for a final assault, being reduced to 10 men for a sin bin did nothing to help our cause.
Can’t fault the effort and commitment of the lads who gave everything. While there will be disappointment at our first defeat, we have been outstanding in getting to 30 points from 13 games and remaining 2nd in the table. We go into the second half of the season in a strong position and with everything to play for. We move on to the next game, away to in form Littlehampton Utd.
Montpelier Villa were well organised, tough to breakdown and in Chris Grant had the most influential player in the game. Our own MOM, Jamie Rowland for a well taken goal and a constant threat on both flanks.
UBFC Line Up – Banks Tewsley Trower Jamieson Gregory Gunn Towse Taylor Ward Rowland Harding. Subs Short Dermott
Scorers Rowland
MOM Rowland
Match highlights from UBFC TV at