LITTLE OAKLEY 2

GAS RECREATION 1

Essex and Suffolk Border League premier division

TWO first-half goals were enough to secure an important victory.

It was a hard-fought win against a strong Gas side, leaving runners-up spot in the division up for grabs.

Oakley opened the scoring after three minutes, when Sam Eldridge closed down Caley in the Gas goal.

The keeper was forced into an awful clearance – giving Eldridge the easiest of tap-ins for 1-0.

Caley pulled off a great double save, denying Adam Bloss and Jake Kioussis.

Rob Pratt then headed wide after a deep cross from Trevor Lewis.

A lay-off by Lewis to Mark Palmer saw him steady himself before testing Caley again.

On the half-hour, Eldridge beat the offside trap but Gas recovered and Murray cleared.

Kioussis was robbed by Carter but the danger was averted by Dobkin.

Morrison was the quieter of the two keepers but the Oakley man dived to save an effort from Craig.

In the dying seconds of the half, Oakley doubled their lead when two good advantages were played.

Eldridge had the opportunity to add his second of the afternoon.

Lewis had a chance early in the second half, after outwitting Hooper.

However, he curled his chance inches wide.

Duly won a great header, putting Eldridge clear.

He gained a few yards – only to blaze over.

Duly did well to release Eldridge, who fed the ball to Lewis.

However, his shot flashed across the face of goal.

Caley saved a volley from Rory Harman, after he latched on to a cross-field ball from Lewis, while at the other end a good block from Dobkin denied West.

Gas were then given a lifeline with ten minutes to go.

A poor decision by Kioussis gifted them a goal, when Willoughby had time to stroke the ball past Morrison.

However, it was Oakley who went on the attack in the final stages and a great pass by Harman released Beecham.

He was again thwarted by Caley, though, who made a great one-handed save to push the ball around the post.

A minute later, Shaun Kioussis grazed the bar with Caley rooted.

The keeper then produced another good block to deny Harman.