CDG -0 - 0 Southwick

Anvils still await their first win of the new year after sharing the spoils with visitors Southwick at a slightly dampened Haven Centre in front of a moderate sized crowd of home and away support.

Anvils took the field looking a bit lightweight on paper, but opened proceedings first on 10 mins with Oli Leslie showing some sleight of foot to set up Sam Cane whose attempt was quickly shut down by keeper Keiran Guard, midfielder Lee Thomas then joined the party when surging thro from midfield but his final ball was well off target.

For the Wickers an early change of personnel, then had Tom Shelley putting in their first effort that Anvil keeper Andy Greaves took with ease, come 13 however and the visitors nearly opened the scoring when a 30yd freekick by Richard Hudson crashed against the Anvil bar, then repeated with a similar free that was well wide.

On 20 Anvils Sonny Barton’s cross found Thomas in space, but the midfielder could only head into the keepers arms, just after came the first Anvil corner which was hacked away, on 25 a Leslie cross was only half cleared as far as Myles Pitt but the youngster fired well over, by now the Anvils looked the more likely to score, but with the visitors not akin to pulling all men back behind the ball made the task that more difficult when the final third was reached and in spite of further attempts by Josh Brown and Cane, plus a reply thro Wickers Hudson that went close, the half remained goal less. HT 0-0.

The Second half had the Anvils kicking toward the Kop End with first Barton having an early shot turned away by Guard, whilst for the Wickers Jordan Peskett should have done better with a Hudson corner, but the Anvils continued to press forward not easy against a now formidable yellow wall of bodies, on 55 James Day entered the officials book, and just after Andy Goodwin having a splended game as an emergency centre back in place of Steve Dixon had his 30yd freekick taken by Guard.

On 70 came the first Anvil change with Josh Brown making way for Harry Lowe who immediately made an impact down the left flank, another welcome sight came just after with the return of Blair Cooney who replaced Barton, these fresh legs certainly upped the tempo and fire up the rather languid Anvil attack, with Pitt again just firing wide, followed by Leslie and Cane whom for both was not one of their better days, with the former continuing falling foul of the offside flag, as stated much huff and puff was exerted but the yellow wall refused to be blown down, and in spite of the odd sortie from both sides the game drifted to a rather disappointing draw. FT 0-0.