SDFL division five

Broadmeadow 3,

A horrific injury to central midfielder Joe Phillips marred what was a determined performance from Kellaton against division five promotion-chasers Broadmeadow.

The understrength Kingsbridge side ar­rived at Bakers Park with few hopes and it didn't take long for Broadmeadow to take the lead in a game they needed to win to keep their promotion hopes alive.

Things went from bad to worse for the Ks as the home side got a two-goal margin minutes later.

Footholds in this game were hard to come by for Kings, but they managed to find some control in the game following this early setback.

Joe Phillips, Chris Lynn and Stephen Dix­on linking up well in the middle of the park to try and seize the advantage from the confident Broads side.

However, the home team had promotion in their sights and wouldn't be dismissed by Kellaton's refusal to lie down.

Broadmeadow got their third of the afternoon with a cross in to the box that was headed in to the back of the net by the tall forward.

Capitulation could have followed for Kingsbridge, but that wasn't the case.

Luke Harvey – playing his first game since injury over a year ago – got a sight of goal before the half-time whistle following good work from Matt Tucker down the right flank, but flashed his effort over the crossbar when well-placed inside the penalty box.

Kellaton got the goal their first-half resurgence deserved with 30 minutes on the clock; and it was a fine team move.

Joe Phillips collected the ball on the edge of the box and surged past two men to reach the by-line. His smart cutback found Harvey in space inside the box and he shifted the ball left to James Warwick, who took a touch and slammed an unstoppable drive in to the top corner of the net.

However, this was to be Joe Phillips' last contribution to the game as he was carried from the pitch minutes later following what can at best be described as a 'poorly-timed' tackle from the home defender.

The half time whistle gave Kellaton the chance to regroup from this blow and the tactical reshuffle seemed to keep the side solid after losing Phillips to injury.

Centre-back pairing Paul Dixon and Adam Phillips took the game by the scruff of its neck and got on top of the lively home forwards.

The Kings threatened from set-pieces with Paul Dixon twice getting on the end of cros­ses; one effort going over the bar and the other being palmed away by the 'keeper.

As usual, Ben Smith's tireless running was proving invaluable down the right flank; the full-back enjoyed a good game against his lively opposite number and provided many overlapping runs.

The game ended with both sides trying their luck from distance but neither team managed to create many clear cut chances as the half end­ed goalless.