High Brooms Casuals Reserves 2-4 Ashton Prime

On the back of 2 excellent wins, Prime travelled to Southborough with virtually an unchanged squad. The only change saw Skovborg-Hansen replaced in goal by Mellors, with Goulding returning on the bench in place of Leaver

The match started in torrential rain and the confidence of the visitors showed as they pressed in the early stages. Goldsmith and Ellis were linking up well down the left and from the former's cross, Kneebone threatened at the far post.

The pace of Kneebone and in-form striker Carl Barker was a constant threat and from Matthews' through-ball, Barker raced clear. He squared for Kneebone who smashed home from an acute angle.

Prime continued to control the game with Walsh and Matthews battling hard in the midfield, but High Brooms were on level terms on the half-hour mark as Prime only half-cleared a corner and the Casuals midfielder lashed in an unstoppable strike beyond Mellors.

As the rain and hail continued to lash down, Prime seemed to lose concentration, and the home side took full advantage when their burly striker beat Jamie Barker to a header - again leaving Mellors helpless.

Prime were in danger of sinking in the Ridgewaye mud, but they found spirit to battle back into contention. Goldsmith went in for a 50/50 and a mis-timed tackle from the Casuals' first scorer left him with stud marks on his ankle - the midfielder was rightly booked.

The flashpoint seemed to awaken Prime and they forced Casuals back and won a flurry of corners. From one of these the ball dropped invitingly for Goldsmith, whose right footed drive was somehow headed off the line.

Prime went into the break wondering how they found themselves behind.

The second half started as the first finished, with Prime in the ascendancy. But the rain was now lashing down so hard that the ref nearly abandoned the game - giving it just 5 more minutes for the rain to relent.

Thankfully for Prime, the sun came out and they were given the chance to get back into the game.

They won a free-kick on the edge of the box and Goldsmith ran up as if to smash it, but instead rolled a well-disguised pass to his strike partner Barker who was in space - but his shot was blocked by the keeper.

Soon after Barker was stuggling with a foot injury and Flamank was given the chance to use his pace up-front.

The crucial breakthrough came when Ellis battled down the left wing and crucially won a tackle before crossing into the box - this was only half-cleared and it fell to Matthews, who expertly chipped over the stranded keeper from the edge of the box.

There was only one team in it now, with the Prime back 4 seemingly impregnable and Mazurkiewicz making more and more attacking runs down the right. Goulding replaced the tiring Walsh and soon Prime were ahead.

More Prime pressure resulted in another half-clearance which fell to Garside who sent a right-footed rocket screaming into the top corner to put Prime ahead.

Barnham soon replaced the Prime hero, and as Prime ran down the clock, the pressure was relieved as Kneebone linked up with Flamank before firing low beyond the keeper.

Man of the Match: Kneebone - A constant threat and an end product. Twice!