Sun Sports v St Margaretsbury  8th August 2015  SSML Premier

Sun smash St Margaretsbury

The first league game of the new season, the time when optimism is high for all clubs and fans.

Sun Sports attacked straight from the kick off and within around 15 seconds Joe Kelly had scored what must have been the quickest goal in both Sun Sports history as well as the Spartan South Midlands league.

Dom David hasselled the St Margaretsbury right back who gave the ball away to Karl Penny, Penny gave the ball back to David who crossed the ball across the area for Kelly to knock in with his left foot.

A dream start for the Sun, and St Margaretsbury were shocked.

So much so that after 11 minutes Sun were two up.

Joe Kelly was given space on the right, who beat one player and crossed the ball over with his trusty left foot for Dom David to brilliantly volley into the back of the net.

A stunned St Margaretsbury tried to get a goal back from a corner kick which Sun keeper Ross Hampton jumped for and claimed despite attention from a St Margaretsbury forward who seemed more intent on the man rather then the ball.

Not long after that St Margaretsbury went on the attack again and despite a lunge from Marcel Jones to stop him their player had his shot blocked by Hampton.

On 16 minutes from a short St Margaretsbury corner Brima Johnson broke the attack down and cleared the ball up to Dom David who from inside his own half, saw Karl Penny making a run through the middle. With two defenders heavily breathing down his neck Penny showed great composure to side foot the ball past the wrong footed Bury keeper to make the score 3-0.

Nathan Pooley then had a couple of close chances, one being a long range shot from outside the area which went narrowly wide and then a cross from the right from Joe Kelly not long after which Pooley couldn't quite reach to try and head the ball home.

St Margaretsbury finally managed to gain some possession and had a shot brilliantly saved by Ross Hampton who managed to push the ball onto the post before Brima Johnson cleared it away.

As the first half wore on Dom David had another chance but the Bury goalie managed to spread himself enough to save the ball going past him.

Within minutes David made himself room to shoot after side stepping a defender but unfortunately the Bury keeper managed to to stretch to his left to save another golden opportunity to extend the lead.

St Margaretsbury pressured Sun with four or five coners in succession but couldn't capitalise on them.

Sun came forward again and with great vision Marcel Jones deftly dinked the ball toward Dom David who volleyed the ball just over the bar, had it gone in it would have been a great goal.

A trademark Nathan Pooley corner was curling in until a St Margaretsbury defender headed it off the line but the danger wasn't over as the ball came close to dropping under the bar, Lee Butler saw his chance and challenged the keeper but to no avail.

It was St Margaretsbury's time to have a corner, which wasn't cleared by the Sun defence, a shot was heading for the goal when Sam Warrell on the goal line cleared it, despite the St Margaretsbury players screaming for a penalty for handball which wasn't awarded.

Finally it was half time. Could the second half be as exciting as the first?

The second half started exactely as the first half had, with the team kicking off heading straight for goal.

A defensive mix up between two Sun defenders nearly gave St Margaretsbury the chance to pull a goal back.

St Margaretsbury had another attack this time from the right but the shot was straight at Hampton.

Marcel Jones then nicked the ball from their midfield and passed it onto Karl Penny who's shot was promptly blocked. The ball then fell to Nathan Pooley who controlled the ball well and crossed the ball from the byline allowing Marcel Jones to say "Thank you very much".

However the elderly assistant referee on the far side flagged for offside so the goal was disallowed.
As the ball was crossed back from the byline no one except the officials could understand why offside was given.

Another Nathan Pooley corner, this time it was a ball to the far post towards Gary Wallace who headed the ball onto the bar which bounced kindly for Karl Penny to head the ball in to make it four - nil to the Sun.

St Margaretsbury, still tried to make a game of it though and had two free kick in dangerous areas in succession.

The first one went over the wall but Ross Hampton was on hand to keep the ball out.
The second one however was blasted over the bar.

Dom David found himself with another chance as he held off two defenders and hit a hard low shot to the St Margaretsbury keeper's left which smacked his hand as it went out for a corner.

Joe Kelly passed the ball across the edge of the area to Karl Penny, seeing his chance for a hat trick he controlled the ball with his left and put his right foot through the ball which sailed narowly over the bar.

80 minutes gone and "Super Sub" Dan Griggs wanted to get in on the action, he disposessed the right back and with his left foot hit the ball past the keeper.

A great start to the season which will give the lads confidence for the games ahead.