Conceding two minutes after levelling, compounded by the first-half deficit, meant Rec suffered a 2-1 defeat to Swallownest in the NCEL Division One on Saturday afternoon.
Finley Durkin’s first goal since his arrival found the top
corner at the Swall Siro from what appeared to be a crossing opportunity, Rec conceding two minutes
later to Sam Foulds’ strike which won the game after Alex Wonham’s opener.
Billy MacDonald’s recent cameos off the bench earnt him a
start whilst Nathan Perks’ recall at the opposite end was the only other change
to Wednesday’s starting line-up.
Finley Durkin was found quickly from Perks to give the
former plenty of space early on on the left. He was able to cut inside but then denied a
way through, moving the ball onto Alfie Bakes to his right and central who’s
allowed to turn onto his left, shooting just wide, looking across goal.
Foulds was found aerially inside the box after a quick
transition through the middle by the hosts led to a pass wide-left to cross. The connection of
the header was only slight, to Yeardley-Monarch’s benefit at the far post but his
first-time half-volley from a tight angle demanded more than the sliced effort it
got.
Despite Rec’s early advantage of possession, Swallownest
took the lead on sixteen minutes through Alex Wonham. Quick transition again
led to the number ten shielding off MacDonald as the ball rolled into position
ahead of the forward’s left foot, Ellis Pickard, at such short distance, could
do nothing but watch the ball come across his goal and into the bottom, left-hand
corner.
Byford went just as close as Bakes from earlier but headed the ball wide of the opposite post with a glancing effort from Bakes’ set-piece.
There was a familiar, like-for-like battle between Rec
centre-half Byford and Swallownest sizable forward Foulds, especially for the latest
long-ball forward into the number nine who was able to move the defender as to
create space for a shot without threatening the scoresheet.
Pickard had to react quickly to Foulds’ half-volley shortly after from
basically on top of the penalty spot, Rec’s ‘keeper raising his hand above his
head to parry, the ball continuing in play to the 'keeper's right. The
following cross was met with a header back to where it came from but teased the
crowd momentarily as it’s dropped only narrowly wide.
Perks had chance himself to power a bouncing ball at goal in
first-half added-time, positioned behind the far post after a corner from the left
wasn’t met in the middle, his tight angle closed down to block the shot.
Again, after the break, Rec set-up base in Swallownests’ half
and levelled within eight minutes as a result. Durkin’s press regained possession
high and wide on the right but even when he was past the pressure, the angle
looked against him. The far top corner was possibly the only place it could
have gone, deliberate or not.
Two minutes later and Swallownest led again, Foulds on the
end of a chipped ball over Rec’s defence. Foulds went with his
side-foot to guide the ball into the left-hand side-netting.
Thompson attacked the same side as Durkin had, in search of another
equaliser, moving between two defenders and into the box but the run wasn’t
matched with the delivery which was blocked and put behind.
Tom Mestre’s dipping effort was watched wide by Pickard who, with a better view, was more comfortable than the spectators, who needed refocusing by the close effort following a long delay involving the referee speaking with both managers regarding a disagreement between two players on field.
Woodhouse was expected to score when he had shifted the ball onto his
favourite left in the middle of the box, but for Sykes tipping over, similar to
Pickard’s reaction stop at the same side before the break.
A minute later, Woddhouse was given an opportunity with his head
from a cross from the right, the converted full-back, now winger, too far under
the ball to divert it anywhere but over.
Despite nearing in on the completion of nine minutes added-time, Nicholas Lalousis went close to squaring the score, from the edge of the box from another Durkin run wide-right. The winger drilled his cross along the turf into space which Lalousis was running into, narrowly aiming wide with a driving effort.
Time did eventually run out for Rec who ended in defeat at
Swall Siro.
A rare week off is followed by a third consecutive away trip, this time to Wakefield as the NCEL Division One continues.
