Dowgate 1-0 Ashton Prime

Following last week's poor performance at Woodlands, Prime were boosted by the returns of several key players for the trip to Dowgate. Garside, Kneebone and Walker all returned to the first XI with Matthews joining Goulding and Barnham on the bench.

The game was delayed by nearly an hour after referee Santer got stuck in traffic - the second time this season that he has delayed the start of a Prime match.

When the game did eventually get underway it was a very even contest with the home side trying to use their pace down the wings at every opportunity and Prime looking to use Barker and Excell to hold the ball up and hit on the break.

Gate were unfortunate not to earn a penalty on 20 minutes as Latter came haring off his line and got nowhere near the ball and clattered into their Striker, but the ref strangely played on.

This was the first of a flurry of "Grobbelaar moments" from the Prime keeper who was caught out last week at Woodlands in the same manner, but luckily Prime escaped this week.

Gilbert and Garside were looking rock-solid at the back and Walters had an exceptional first half in his unaccustomed left-back role, keeping Gate's tricky right-winger in check.

Kneebone was not his normal attacking threat as he played a very disciplined role in front of Walters. Prime looked most dangerous down the right-wing where Skovborg-Hansen was getting some change out of Moon, the home side's left-back.

It was an evenly contested battle in the middle of the park with Goldsmith battling hard to win possession and the impressive Walker trying to dictate play.

The Numbers' best chance of the half came when Excell cleverly slipped in Barker who just beat the on-rushing keeper to the ball, but as he clattered into the keeper, his effort rolled just wide of the post.

The impact left the keeper with concussion and he had to be replaced soon after.

It was locked at 0-0 at the break and Prime were determined to make their hard work pay off in the second half.

Prime continued to work hard and looked as solid as they have done all season, with Mazurkiewicz not allowing anyone past down the right side.

It was still a game of few chances although Skovborg-Hansen looked threatening before he was replaced by Matthews to allow Kneebone to switch to his favoured right-flank.

Soon after, Kneebone had Prime's best chance of the game as good link up play from the front 2 gave him a half-chance which he sliced wide.

Goulding replaced Walters and Barnham came on for the captain Goldsmith for the final period with the game set for a draw.

But with less than 5 minutes to go, an inswinging corner was headed in at the back-post to give the home side all three points. A basic error by Prime who failed to pick up a player each and an infuriating way to lose a game after they had battled so hard.

Man of the Match: Walker - A touch of class in midfield.