FREDS BEAT ST EDS IN BATTLE ROYAL

The Freds returned to Alfredian Park after a good effort at Bampton Town.

The green and white hoops were worth a share of the points against the league leaders and disappointed to go away with only positives.

It was a bright start against Royals, with the Freds dominating the early exchanges. It took less than a minute to make an impact. Jonny Hall, back after mumps, raced onto a through pass by Matthew Lambe, shrugged off close attention and finished in the bottom corner.

The opener set the tone for the first half, with the Freds constantly punching passes behind enemy lines for George Santacana-Melvin, Hitman Hall and Christiano Marshiano to exploit. The latter had much joy, coming short and drilling inch perfect passes into Jonny Hall's prime runway, and putting daylight between himself and full-back to deliver excellent crosses to the near post also.

The Freds played out from the back with good intent, but it was never a comfortable route.

They were good for their goal lead at the interval, and probably deserved one or two more for their superiority.

Royals offered more in the second half, and Jacob Haines and Matthew Goodman showed good awareness of threat, in addition to discipline and composure in the face of much provocation. St Eds made a fist of it, but the two holding midfielders, together with the fiesty and industrious Jake Stewart when introduced, were happy to slug it out.

Matthew Lambe and Alex Rose pressed opponents in the channels at the right time, adhered to recovery lines out of possession and looked to play good football in possession.

Will Beynon ( Billy the beast ) and Harry Alcatraz Buckland ( the rock from which there's no escape ) had all the hallmarks of good old-fashioned centre-backs who refuse to lose. But also seized opportunity to play tidy football from the first third.

Harry Howard was a telling presence in both penalty boxes, clearing corners against when under pressure, and unsettling the blue and white striped massive at the other end.

Matthew MacDonald replaced Matthew Lambe in the second half and the transition was seamless. Macca knitted into the back-line, business as usual.

Joe George replaced George Santacana-Melvin on the left flank, and Harry Howard moved up to spearhead the attack, when the recovering Jonny Hall, and match winner, was forced to retire early through exhaustion.

Royals applied pressure in the second half, but never carried a serious threat, failing to really test the brilliant Lewis Jordan between the sticks in 80 minutes. St Eds hit the target with a free-kick late on, but LJ's quick feet had him positioned to collect with ease.

It was a mature performance that highlighted improvement. The Freds, having already played the top two sides, boast the fifth best defensive record, and have now deposited a well deserved clean sheet into the STAT bank.