Tue 11th Aug: Anvils 2 Midhurst 1

The Anvils won this match with some ease although the score line doesn't really show it. Going 1 up after 3mins they generally dominated and if it wasn't for the heroics of the MH keeper the Anvils would have been well clear by HT. 2nd period MH came more into the game and had a few chances to equalise but overal CDG were the dominant side.

A rather frustrating evening for the Anvils against a battling Midhurst outfit who refused to lie down, purely on the chances that the Anvils created they could have been out of sight by HT. Instead with only a single goal lead Midhurst could easily have rescued this match before the final whistle. The Anvils went ahead as early as the 3rd minute with Ben Brooker seizing on a thro ball and driving past keeper Miles Hamilton. 1-0 Anvils.

After the goal bonanza Saturday one then sat back and waited and waited as chance after chance was not finished, with Brooker lobbing over, Dave Houlders then being thwarted by keeper Hamilton, further efforts came from Oli Leslie and Josh Alcock but the visitors keeper held firm. Midhurst always looked threatening on the counter with Lewis Hamilton and Gary Norgate using their experience, with the latter going close but slicing his shot wide when it seemed easier to score, and Matt Mason firing over, but overall the Anvils back four held firm with Blair Cooney and James Day papering over any cracks that appeared as the half ended. HT: 1-0 Anvils.

Second half opened with the twin strike force of Brooker and Leslie probing the Stags defence, but the finishing was again thwarted by resolute defending plus more than the odd bit of good fortune, and with just a single goal lead one was aware of possible consequences of missing those chances, flankman Harry Lowe was catching the eye with his trickery and pace and came nearest to extending the lead on the hour with a rasping drive that struck the underside of the bar and came back out, soon after a determined run by Houlders was halted by the Stags keeper, before Alcock on 70 seized on a Brooker pass to thump the ball home to give the Anvils a two goal cushion. 2-0 Anvlls.

Any thoughts of cruising the final twenty were rudely interrupted when a silly foul on the edge of the box gave the Stags a chance to reduce the arrears and which Hamilton took advantage of to drive through the wall and open their account. 2-1 Anvils.

Further chances came the Anvils way with a Lowe corner finding Day whose resulting header in turn was hacked away, and a last gasp shot by Leslie being tipped over by Hamilton as full time approached with no further goals a'coming. FT 2-1 Anvils.

A game that bought home the fact that we have to finish our chances more readily. We are dominating games but with few of the opportunities created being converted It always allows the opposition a lifeline. However two good wins under our belt and 2nd in the table is a good start.

Team: Andy Greaves, Blair Cooney, James Lovett, Mike Spence, Steve Dixon, James Day, Dave Houlders (Myles Pitt), Josh Alcock (Lee Thomas), Ben Brooker (Sam Cane), Oli Leslie, Harry Lowe.

MOM: Steve Dixon Attn: 55

Next up on Saturday is another home match this time in the Emirates FA Cup against SCL Premier side Chichester City. Winners of this tie will be at home to Ryman South Chatham Town on 29th August.