Serie A: We Hate Ben 1-3 Pathetic Athletic

We Hate Ben lost their third league game and fifth in a row in all competitions but managed to climb off the bottom of Serie A after other results went their way.

Chris Webster's side were without goalkeeper Tim Dulson, full-back Joey Scutt and Webster himself who did not appear in the squad from the closely fought contest with Commodore. Matt Davies and Jay Walker returned to the starting line-up Davies at right-back and Walker up front. Thomas Svendsen continued to deputise between the posts. Peter Thomas, Andy Rhodes and Rhodri Lloyd-Evans were all named on the bench with Thomas and Rhodes looking to make their first appearances of the season, Lloyd-Evans looking for his debut.

We Hate Ben started fairly brightly, having the better of exchanges in midfield and their neat passing sometimes creating openings. WHB suffered their first set-back when Chris Davies had to go off with an injury. Thomas, who had not played a match since the ADL Shield Final in 2010 looked rusty at times but the side as the four played their first match together. His partner, Harry Oliver, who won the man of the match for his efforts, attempted to lead from the back, often pushing up into midfield with the ball.

Attacking-wise, the left-hand side of Jordan Watkins and James Phillips made progress, but it was on the right through captain Rhys Jones who put WHB ahead. WHB looked well set to extend their lead as they pushed on, swapping Phil Bridgman for James Naik. Naik should have won a penalty after his cross was handled but they couldn't add to their lead however, and Pathetic managed an equaliser against the run of play before the break. 

Jack Ingham came on in the second-half, while Andy Rhodes came on for Dan Fellows. WHB were hit with second goal by Pathetic, and a third was turned into his own net by Thomas with a sliced clearance. WHB's confidence and good work were undone by the third goal and despite another raft of substitutions and a late flurry they couldn't get a second goal to bring them back into the game. WHB will feel aggrieved due to the denied penalty and the lack of free-kicks given for a barrage of poor tackles felt by R. Jones in particular, as well as their endeavour coming to nothing. They now have only three games remaining to turn around their season.

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

Svendsen - M. Davies, C. Davies, Oliver, Phillips - R. Jones (C), Muscroft, Fellows, Watkins - Bridgman, Walker.

Subs (used): Thomas, Naik, Shaw, Rhodes, McIlhiney, Lloyd-Evans, Ingham, Eidi. (unused) Johnson, Amos.