Town made the trip to Ilford to take on Faces on Saturday for a bottom 3 clash. Just when it looked like a few players were on the way back there were numerous drop outs and Town had just 13 players including the returning Sibbo. Whilst waiting for everyone to arrive, the players were treated to a long and rather tedious résumé of WBB’s previous night’s abstinence from alcohol and resulting nocturnal performance which apparently was of Olympic proportions. Fortunately everyone then arrived and we were able to get in our cars and away from his “very interesting” story.

Town started very slowly and Faces dominated the opening 20 minutes and it came as no surprise when they took the lead, 1-0. This seemed to galvanise Town and for the remainder of the half they had their best spell of the game and after having one very good penalty appeal waved away were awarded a penalty second time of asking, 10 minutes before the half time whistle, when Graham Jeater was brought down in the box whilst in full flow. Ben Polley tucked away the penalty and Town went into half time all square after a fairly even first half.

The second half kicked off and Town were hopeful of building on their good play of the last 20 minutes of the first half but things started to go wrong almost straight away. After an indifferent 10 minute spell Town conceded a penalty which was converted to make it 2-1 and just 5 minutes later received a hammer blow when what I can only presume to be an attempted cross (either that or a contender for the best goal ever scored) from the right hand touchline, some 45 yards out, screamed, wind assisted, in to the top corner, leaving Chris Neal helpless 3-1. Brez tiring after 3 months out and a victim of a bug during the week, and Lodgey, injured, were replaced by Flighty and Sibbo but try as they might Town couldn't get a foothold in the game. Then "out of the blue" with 15 minutes remaining Town scored when Stuart Dallaway cut in from the right and neatly side footed the ball home under the advancing keeper, 3-2 and game on ! Unfortunately Towns hopes were soon dashed when Faces added 2 more goals in the remaining minutes to complete a deserved, if rather flattering, 5-2 victory.

Player of the match this week is Chris Neal, who was again excellent.

El Col