League Two: We Hate Ben 3-3 Abergeldie

The SoccerJoos slumped to a disappointing draw in their first match back after the Easter break, but can take some positives from managing to rescue a point after going two goals down.

After impressing before Easter with three wins on the trot, We Hate Ben manager James Naik continued with the 4-4-2 formation and similar personnel that had served well previously. Changes from the last game against ATFC Lions were confined to the middle of the park with Captain Richie Shore and Jack Thomas returning in midfield. Stuart Fleming continued to deputise in goal and Dave Norbury was welcomed back into the fold after returning to the club after a long absence.

We Hate Ben started the first-half brightly and created a few chances before taking the lead with a scrappy goal. A ball into the box was not cleared and fell to Toby Moss at the far post who managed to get just enough contact to nudge it past the goalkeeper. We Hate Ben looked for more goals and had chances from the likes of James Peate a Jack Thomas effort that the 'keeper managed to tip over. Matt L'argent also managed a mazy run down the left beating four or five players before eventually running the ball into the 'keeper. These failed chances saw Abergeldie find a way back into the game before half-time with a scrappy goal of their own. The scores were level with a goal each at half-time.

The half-time break saw a spat between two WHB players on the touchline, which was dealt with fairly quickly. Both players remained on the field at the restart, with one substitution made as a precaution when Adam Smith was replaced with Adam Edgerley, who slotted into midfield as Jack Thomas moved back to right-back. The squabbling seemed to affect the players as within minutes of the restart a goal was conceded, mostly due to poor closing down from the midfield. An Abergeldie player picked up the ball around twenty-five yards out, moved forward and due to the space he was left in, hit an unstoppable drive which dipped at the right time over Fleming's head and into the net. More problems began to hit We Hate Ben as Peter Thomas had to be replaced by the returning Norbury, while Ross Pope was replaced with Adam Roberts on the right-wing. To make matters worse, Fleming was then injured after a saving a one-on-one on the edge of his box, meaning defender Chris Webster took the gloves for about thirty minutes. Matt Davies was brought on in midfield to replace Fleming, while Edgerley was moved back to defence.

The make-shift back five with no recognised goalkeeper or central defenders were breached for a final time when an Abergeldie player was put through and finished well into the bottom corner from the left-hand side. Webster made a save afterwards to keep the score down and We Hate Ben still looked to be in trouble. That was until they managed to get a goal back, which had somewhat of a galvanising effect. A blocked attempt looped up to Davies on the eighteen yard box who hit it perfectly on the volley which saw it fly past the keeper into the top corner. The goal was Davies' first for the club and he now looks a favourite for goal of the season. We Hate Ben equalised with twenty minutes to go when Hywel Williams beat two players on his wing before hitting a low cross which managed to find its way to Peate who poked the ball home. Naik made a final throw of the dice with ten minutes to go as he threw on Jose Scott for Edgerley and changed to a 3-4-3 with Williams joining the attack. Chances were again not taken as Abergeldie defended their point well and the match finished 3-3, a disappointing result which may have ended WHB's title challenge.

A disappointed Naik made these comments after the game: "I have several points to make in the wake of the result and to begin with I will say that although I am disappointed to have dropped points I am pleased with the two-goal comeback. That showed we had great character and determination but I also believe that the players caused the problems themselves with their half-time argument. How else can you explain shipping two goals immediately after half-time? The matter has been dealt with now and I hope the players involved don't lose their cool again in such a manner as the next three games will see us losing heavily if they don't continue to be professional as they have earlier this season. The title looks a long-shot now but if we look at it positively we have ten points and our rivals still have a lot of games to play. We need three more points to beat last-years total which saw us get into fourth, and we have to make sure we do not fall away against the league's bigger sides. With this in mind I set the team a target of four points from their next three matches, which should be enough to see us in the top four."

Team (4-4-2, 3-4-3)

Fleming - Smith, Webster, P. Thomas, L'argent - Pope, J. Thomas, Shore, Williams - Peate, Moss.

Subs: (used) Edgerley, Roberts, Norbury, Davies, Scott (unused) Turvill, Shaw.

Goals: Moss, Davies, Peate.

Man of the match: Shore.