On the eighth Saturday of a very frustrating “start stop” season, and after three weeks without a game, Town travelled to Benfleet for just their third game of the season. Any momentum gained from their last game, where they put in a good performance and gained a very creditable point from Mountnessing Boca, was completely undone and in effect Town were starting their season afresh – half way through October !!!!

The same starting line up was named and Town kicked off defending against the slope and breeze on what can only be described as a “difficult” pitch and they came under some early pressure as Benfleet, clearly miles ahead of Town in match fitness, piled the ball forward. During this initial 20 minute spell, and for the most of the first half, Town were kept in the game by some magnificent defending from Preecy, Mark Neal and in particular “the warrior” Ready who looks to be getting back to something approaching his best after last seasons injury frustrations. Town then got a grip, found their feet a bit, created a couple of half chances and had a very good shout for a penalty turned away. Chris Neal then made a fantastic and brave save to deny the Benfleet striker from close range from what was probably the only clear cut chance of the first half for either side. Half time arrived scoreless and although Town couldn’t afford to relax they could look forward to a second half with the breeze and slope in their favour.

Town were terribly slow out of the blocks in the second half and soon went a goal down after just 4 minutes when Benfleet scored with a close range volley following an excellent pass and move combination that cut the Town defence to shreds – sometimes you just have to hold you hands up and say “good goal” – this was one of those occasions and credit goes to Benfleet for an excellent move that Town couldn’t really do much to prevent, 0-1. Town were shaken and try as they might they really couldn’t get any foothold in the game and were strangely subdued. Chris Headon and Andy Martin were replaced by Lodgey and Wiggy and Mark Neal was pushed into midfield in a bit of a reshuffle but still Town looked lethargic and Benfleet continued to dominate. It came as no great surprise when Benfleet scored again to make it 2-0 and it looked like Town were finished. To their credit Town didn’t throw the towel in; they rallied and started to cause Benfleet some problems. With 10 minutes left Ready got a richly deserved goal when he scored with a close range header - 1-2 – and game on!! – Town now put Benfleet under pressure and were desperately unlucky not to equalise in the last minute of the game - Town earned a corner – Lee Humphrey “fizzed” the corner in and from the resulting scramble a defender just denied Mark Neal a fraction before he was about to tap it in from close range – the ball run loose and a goal bound shot struck a Benfleet defender, who knew nothing about it, on the line and the ball was eventually scrambled away to safety. To add insult to injury the ball was booted away straight up the other end and having pushed virtually everyone up for the corner Benfleet ’s scored with ease on the breakaway - 1-3. The final whistle went a few seconds later. So a disappointing result but at least Town now have a run of games to get some impetus going.

Although there were excellent performances from Chris Neal, Mark Neal, Lee Humphrey and Preecy, this week’s player of the match this week is Ready who was absolutely superb.

El Col