Cane swoops to conquer

A brilliant diving header by Sam Cane in the dying minutes gave the Anvils the points in this top of the table clash at a superb Tinsley Lane playing surface, a result that now puts the Anvils top of the pile.

The Anvils got off to the worst possible start conceding with just 5 mins on the clock, when homesters Aiden Cawte took advantage of slack defending to open the score 1-0 Oaks, this coming after his first attempt had been blocked, just minutes after midfielder Pillar joined the party with another shot that had Anvil keeper Andy Greaves sprawling to push away his effort for the first corner. After these early shocks the Anvils started to settle into their short passing routine as against the Oaks more long ball game, with an early chance for Sam Cane, followed by one of many Harry Lowe freekicks that produced a bit of head tennis before being cleared upfield, but on 10 parity was restored when a long ball down the left side found Oli Leslie and after tussling with an Oak defender for the ball, he outpaced his marker to guide the ball home with Oakwood’s keeper stranded. 1-1.

More Lowe freekicks were keeping Oaks custodian Milborrow busy as the Anvils began to get more into their game with both Leslie and Dave Houlder having further shots, on 30 youngster Josh Brown playing well, was just short after picking up a mistake from the Oaks keeper, on 40 Cane bustling in just failed to find the target, but the Anvils were rewarded on 44 when Leslie on the left sent in a cross that found Houlders on the right who volleyed home to put the Anvils in front as the half ended. But not without a nervy last minute when the last Oak attack produced about half a dozen shots that were somehow repelled by legs, bodies and a fair bit of good fortune as the whistle blew. HT 1-2 Anvils.

For the second half Brown who had suffered a foot injury was replaced by Sonny Barton, as the Oaks after no doubt a few words at half time raised the temperature, and the Anvils back line were forced to battle against a more determined outfit, with Blair Cooney outstanding with his lung bursting runs and his tigerish tackling, one instance comes to mind with him chasing after four different players before nicking the ball, and that just about sums up the Anvils attitude these days, they just never give up. Back to the action and for a while the game seemed to go a bit flat, come 55 and a combination of Leslie and Houlder set up Tom Agate to fire wide, just after Agate was replaced by Josh Alcock, and on 75 Leslie was replaced by Ben Brooker.
On 80 the Anvils were to be rocked when from an Oak corner striker Rob McNab found space to slot past Greaves and again restore parity between the sides at 2-2.

The excitement was not over however as with minutes left on the clock Brooker out left swung in a cross into the box which was met by a flying Cane coming from the right to nod home a screamer just inside the post to give game, set and match to the Anvils.