Super League: We Hate Ben 1-2 Sexual Harassment Pandas

A We Hate Ben side shorn of their goalkeeper, captain and top goalscorer defied the odds against title-favourites and Aberystwyth Town Cup runners-up Pandas until being undone by a debatable goal in the second-half. WHB will now look to consolidate their fifth-placed position

Manager Matt L'argent had huge selection problems ahead of the game with several players unavailable due to injury. Wednesday's hat-trick hero Jay Walker, captain Chris Webster and goalkeeper Nathan Leach were all out with injuries picked up in that game but Andrew Rhodes returned to the starting eleven. WHB started with a 4-4-2 formation, James Amos was used as a stand-in goalkeeper, Jack Kelly at right-back and L'argent and Dave Norbury at centre-back. Rhodes partnered Matt Davies in the middle of midfield, R. Jones and Mark Healy continuing on the wings. Dan Johnson made his first start in an an familiar striking role with Dave Turvill. Ben Court, Michael Jones, Jason Dodsworth and Adam Edgerley were on the bench.

The first-half was a battle with much of the play being limited to a midfield battle with the two teams looking to dominate that area of the pitch. Pandas probably managed a couple more efforts in the half and probably were slightly the better side, but they still managed to find themselves 1-0 down at half-time. Johnson who had been a menace to the Pandas back four was brought down in the box and won a penalty. L'argent stepped up and dispatched the ball past the goalkeeper for his fifth goal of the season. Pandas attempted to up the tempo for the remaining minutes but couldn't find a way through.

The second half was much the same with Pandas attempting to pressurise the WHB back four and they got their reward with in the first few minutes. Pandas forward held up the ball on the edge of the box and laid it off to the midfielder who side footed into the corner and past Amos. Pandas got the goal that turned out to be the winner soon later, when a slightly dubious goal was awarded. A cross into the box was met with a Pandas header, which Amos saved well. The ball then was attempted to be cleared several times, kicked and blocked by the players in the box, a Pandas player managed to get a shot away which took a deflection and looked to fall on or just over the goal line. The referee awarded the goal despite being a fair distance away and it frustrated WHB who had been excellent defensively, but they carried on with their task. They continued to keep it tight with L'argent being particuarly impressive in defence, and looked to catch Pandas on the break. Turvill had an effort saved after great play by R. Jones, but in the end they couldn't get the equalizer they would have deserved.

After the match L'argent told his makeshift side he was proud of their performance and wanted them to take it into their final game on Wednesday against Obi Wan Kenobi Nil.

Team (4-4-2)

Amos - Kelly, L'argent, Norbury, Charnley - R. Jones, Davies, Rhodes, Healy - Turvill, Johnson.

Substitutes: M. Jones, Dodsworth, Court (used) Edgerley (unused).

Goal: L'argent (pen)

Man of the Match: Davies