High Brooms Casuals Reserves 4-2 Ashton Prime

The Numbers made the daunting trip to The Ridgewaye to face the current leaders of Division 1.

Prime were missing several players already and Garside's late withdrawal left Goldsmith with little choice but to press Rich Davis into action at centre-back - despite his ankle injury.

Prime knew that they had to compete with the Casuals and it was clear from the outset that the home side were not going to have it all their own way.

Infact Prime nearly took a shock lead after 10 minutes when Goldsmith charged down the keeper's clearance and his left-foot toe poke rolled agonisingly the wrong side of the post.

Casuals were certainly not getting into their stride with Abu and Ellis immense - putting in tackle after tackle and winning several aerial battles - despite the presence of the lanky Floyd in the Casuals midfield.

The Prime back 4 was holding up well with Sander and Barnham winning some crucial tackles and Davis performing well alongside the ever-impressive Mazurkiewicz.

But they took the lead after about half an hour when Kneebone half-cleared a corner, but it was played back in and Prime left 2 players unmarked to tap home, giving Kerton no chance.

It was looking bleak for The Numbers as Casuals doubled their lead after their striker was given the freedom of Southborough to bare down on goal and despite Kerton bravely foiling his first effort, he was on hand to slot home the rebound.

The keeper needed treatment on his shoulder after landing awkwardly, but he was ok to battle on.

Prime kept their heads up though and had two further good chances before the break.

Firstly Kneebone burst clear down the right and after being denied by the keeper at the first attempt, his rebound effort struck the outside of the post.

Next up Goldsmith sprang the offside trap, but he pulled his shot wide as the ball sat up.

Prime knew they were still in the contest at the break, with everyone giving 100%.

But the second half started badly as Casuals striker Hammond slotted home well after a flowing move from the home side.

But still Prime didn't hang their heads and with Walters roaming all over the pitch to get involved, it was Kneebone again who burst clear and he was denied by a superb save by the Casuals number 1.

Prime were not to be denied though and Abu burst through and made the most of a comical slip by the Casuals defensive sub to coolly round the keeper and slot home - a deserved goal for the Prime midfield dynamo.

Prime were visibly boosted by the goal and with Goldsmith and Excell linking up really well up front, Prime camped themselves in their rivals' half for a good 10 minutes as they sensed the comeback was on.

Indeed Floyd was getting frustrated by his side's slump and after being skinned by Goldsmith on a couple of occasions, the ref rightly kept giving Prime a string of free-kicks.

But the visitors could not quite find a second goal and at the other end Floyd nearly had the last laugh when his back post header appeared to be sailing in, but Sander's leap and headed clearance denied him.

Moments later he had the ball in the net, but his celebrations were short lived due to the linesmans flag - much to the amusement of The Numbers.

But the fourth goal did come as the ball was drilled in from the left and the luckless Dave Ellis sliced the ball into his own net.

There was still time for Prime to salvage some pride as Excell cut in from the left and used Abu's run as a decoy to curl a perfect 25 yarder into the top corner.

Postlethwaite replaced the stricken Kneebone for the last 15 and battled well to keep Prime in the game - but they ran out of time and it was the home side that progressed to face Dowgate in Round 2.

Man of the Match: Abu - Never stopped running and got a deserved goal