Loughts 3- Dereham 1
Posted by Peter Kempe on 17 October 2016
The men's 1st team had a potential banana skin of a fixture against an established Dereham who arrived in determined mood after holding Loughts to a 2-2 draw away last season.
The Loughts boys pushed from the off, creating chances at will against a team putting every man behind the ball. The pressure broke through Harry Kempe, making up for a missed forward drive earlier, who bludgeoned the ball into the net from the top of the D.
Dereham rallied well, creating a bit of a mayhem in the box resulting in an equaliser from Laurie Hill.
Under sustained pressure Dereham parked the bus. Some robust unpunished defending from Dereham resulted in Loughts twice seeing red and then green after hitting the blue turf.
After half time, Loughts, back to 11, rallied. Huge pressure on the defence created a host of opportunities. Carpenter Shane Martin decided to target the woodwork three times rather than the net.
The Dereham keeper made some magnificent saves as the Dereham thin red line resolutely defended their goal but they could not hold out for ever. The deadlock was finally broken through a tidy backpost finish from George Lilley, before Rory Coltham finished the job near the end.
Post game, juvenile delinquent Will Hopkins stated 'Look, they defended well, but we shaved away at them and punished them eventually. We'll celebrate well at my house'.
Next week is the tricky away leg at Ipswich (who lost 6-5 at Letchworth on the weekend but remain unbeaten at home).
