Ashton Prime 4-2 Frant

Following their cup exit last week, The Numbers returned to Bayham for league action - looking to complete the double over mid-table rivals Frant.

Kerton was absent but Jamie Barker made a welcome return after nearly a year out and he took over the number 1 jersey.

Goldsmith had the luxury of picking from nearly a full squad apart from Kerton, full-back Sander (thigh) and long-term absentees Gilbert and Carl Barker.

Leaver came into the back four with Goldsmith resting himself to give Skovborg-Hansen a start up front alongside Excell. Garside, Walker and new signing Hodges had to make do with a place on the bench.

Prime were confident of claiming all three points - but you wouldn't have known it by their lacklustre start - with Frant's strikers tearing through Prime's rearguard at will and Barker had to make 2 early one-on-one saves to deny the visitors.

After about 10 minutes though, Frant were deservedly ahead as a long ball eluded centre-backs Mazurkiewicz and Davis and their striker beat Barker, finishing high into the roof of the net.

It was a comedy of errors for Prime who were all at sea and every through ball seemed to be mis-judged by a light blue shirt, leading to chances for the Frant strikers.

It was not long before Frant doubled their lead as Prime only half-cleared a corner and as the ball was played back in, both of the Frant strikers were left completely unmarked in the 6-yard box to roll the ball home.

5 minutes later it could have been even worse as the unusually shaky Mazurkiewicz was beaten to the ball and as Barnham tried to cover, their challenge toppled the Frant striker and referee Delves eventually gave the penalty.

Up stepped Frant skipper Chris Parker to increase the advantage, but his spot-kick was straight at the inspired Barker and Prime scrambled the ball to safety.

This was to prove a key turning point as Prime finally started to come into the game.

Wingers Kneebone and Walters finally saw some of the ball with the assistance of the industrious Abu and Ellis.

Indeed Walters curled an inswinging corner against the crossbar as Prime fought for a way back into the game.

A string of mystifying refereeing decisions resulted in dissent from Abu who was lucky to escape a red card - but did become Prime's first booked player of the season.

Stand-in skipper Excell and Skovborg-Hansen also started to link up and the latter should have pulled one back just before the break but pulled his shot wide - to sum up Prime's first half.

At the interval a frustrated Goldsmith expressed his disappointment with the first 45, and decided that immediate changes were needed. Barnham and Davis were the sacrificial lambs, but in truth any of the 10 outfield players could have gone.

Garside came on at Centre-Back, with Walker joining the action in the heart of the midfield. Ellis switched to full-back as part of the re-shuffle.

Immediately Prime looked a different team and with the slope assisting them, they pinned Frant back.

Walker's silky touch and energy made an obvious difference and suddenly Prime were passing the ball and players were moving well to provide options for passes.

They pulled one back on 55 minutes when Kneebone burst down the right and cleverly reversed the ball for Excell to slot home into the far corner.

Prime were soon level as Abu's excellent through ball released Skovborg-Hansen who's pace just got him to the ball before the on-rushing keeper and the ball trickled in off the post. Frant must be sick of the sight of the striker who has now netted in each of the last 5 meetings between the clubs.

Prime continued to press, with a flurry of corners which Frant scrambled clear, but the visitors were still looking dangerous on the break, and again Barker was forced into an excellent one-on-one save - not bad for a stand-in keeper!

Hodges came on for his Prime debut - replacing the tiring Skovborg-Hansen and allowing Walker to move up front.

Time appeared to be running out, but the increasingly influential Walters burst down the left wing and his pass put Excell clear. From a tight angle and with his left foot, Excell rattled the crossbar, but Walker was on hand to smash home the rebound and complete the comeback.

Frant tried to mount a late flurry, but Garside and Mazurkiewicz were looking much more solid now and full-backs Leaver and Ellis had kept their respective wingers quiet all half.

Prime hit Frant on the break with another quick run down the right wing from Kneebone. The ball was rolled across the goal and Walker was again there to tap home and seal the points for the Numbers.

Man of the Match: BarkerJ - Awesome. Kept Prime in the game and saved a penalty.