League Two: We Hate Ben 3-2 FC Phoenix

We Hate Ben stormed to one of their greatest ever results in a pulsating match in yesterday's humid conditions. The win leaves the club fourth with a highest ever points total as they now go into a play-off for the ADL Shield tomorrow.

WHB lined up in a 4-4-2 formation, welcoming back Stuart Fleming in goal, Peter Thomas in defence and James Peate in attack as they looked to grab the initiative early on. However, the first ten minutes saw Phoenix dominate and it looked like it was going to be a long afternoon for the SoccerJoos. The better of the early chances fell to Phoenix but some poor final ball and some worse shooting saw WHB escape. The team started to get onto the front foot but were punished with a quick break from midfield and a low finish underneath the body of onrushing goalkeeper Fleming, who showed his anger with his teammates.

The side attempted to hit back some attempts of their own with Peate being put through only to scuff a shot while Hywel Williams took a few too many touches and was unable to get his shot away. Their were also some headers from corners which went over the bar or wide but WHB did however manage to hit back with an equaliser before the break. Jack Thomas played a few passes while on a run towards the box before being found with a ball that somehow trickled through which he dispatched past the goalkeeper from close range.

WHB manager James Naik made some changes at half-time with Matt Davies coming off for captain Richie Shore, and Peate was given a breather as Dave Turvill joined the fray. Williams managed to put We Hate Ben in the lead after around fifteen minutes when his shot was parried into the net by the FC Phoenix goalkeeper, but disaster struck when Fleming was forced off with a foot injury after a tangle with his own defender Chris Webster. Nathan Leach was brought on but had it didn't take long before he was forced to pick the ball out of his net. Phoenix had the ball down the right and managed to break through before the forward turned and passed across for another to finish, despite the efforts of Webster on the line. Davies replaced Peter Thomas who had taken a knock and Shore was put into defence, which helped tighten things up. Leach managed a save to keep the scores level before Turvill put through Williams who weaved into the box to score his second. Turvill then had a chance to wrap up the points after a ball was squared for him to just tap in, but he ballooned his shot over the bar. WHB then battled on for the remainder of the match to hold on for a deserved 3-2 victory and a repeat of their highest league finish and a new highest points total.

A pleased Naik made these comments post-match: "I am delighted with the performance of the lads today as they really gave their all to win and equal and beat records. Williams was brilliant today but he was helped by some great performances by the likes of Matt Davies, Jack Thomas, Chris Webster - I could name the whole side if I'm honest, except for Turvill after that miss perhaps. However, jokes aside I expect the lads to replicate their performance today and go for revenge in our play-off against Sons Of Pitches, so that we can reach the final and win our first proper piece of silverware. Congratulations lads, you deserve to be here and now we must make that final push."

Team (4-4-2)

Fleming - J. Thomas, Webster, P. Thomas, L'argent - Pope, M. Davies, Edgerley, Sermon - Williams, Peate.

Subs: (used) Leach, Healy, Turvill, Shore. (unused) None.

Goals: J. Thomas, Williams 2.

Man of the match: Williams.