Kanes League Two: Sex Panthers 3-1 We Hate Ben

We Hate Ben stumbled to their first defeat of the season after an opening 20 minute spell that has put a serious dent in their title-challenging credentials. Sex Panthers again played football the right way as they passed their way through a WHB side that started slowly but improved as the match went on.

With the SoccerJoos missing several players, and a defence that included midfielder Jack Thomas the team failed to show the same tempo as a Sex Panthers side that scored two goals in the opening 20 minutes. The first goal saw some nice passing and the shot hit the post before crossing the line as it rolled across the goal. The second was a fine effort that somehow crept past goalkeeper Liam Weaver's near post. The team improved slowly but surely as the half wore on and had a couple of efforts on the Panthers goal.

The second half saw one change as Adam Edgerley was taken off to add more firepower up front with Alastair England coming on off the bench. WHB started to look dangerous but with Sex Panthers too looking potent on the counter the game could have gone either way. WHB had a penalty decision turned down when the ball was handled in the area, the decision given was that the offence occurred outside the box. Hywel Williams took the free-kick and unfortunately hit it way over the bar.

Panthers counter attacks were proving to be a menace but an in-form Chris Webster and a solid Captain put in a shift at the back. WHB did manage to score with a stunning left-footed strike from Paresh Bodalikar. WHB looked to take the game by the scruff of the neck with Adee Egbeyemi, Matt Sermon and Danny Shaw coming on before Ross Pope was brought on up front. They were undone however after a difficult shot was fumbled by Weaver and a player was on hand for a tap-in to finish the fight back and hand Panthers all the points.

A disappointed but calm James Naik was asked about the defeat after the match. "I am saddened by the defeat that could have seen us go back to the top of the table and I can only hope we start the next match with a higher tempo. It was difficult for the lads on a bit of a bad pitch and with the defensive crisis we had (Matt L'argent pulled out an hour before kick-off with food poisoning, as well as the missing Jason Dodsworth, Alex MacDonald and Michael Jones) and I thought we could have got something from the game, particularly after Paresh's finish. Overall I have to concede that Panthers probably deserved the three points and I wish them well for the rest of the season. We will now look to get back on track in our next game and hope we can keep challenging for the top four, and earn ourselves a play-off place."

Team (4-4-1-1, then 4-4-2 and 3-4-3)

Weaver - Thomas, Rees, Webster, Townsend - Giessler, Bodalikar, Edgerley, Mack - Williams - Peate.

Subs: (used) England, Sermon, Egbeyemi, Shaw, Pope (unused) None.

Goals: Bodalikar.

Man of the match: Webster