Backs-against-the-wall Belstone do the job

Belstone edged their Harrow Sunday League encounter with Broadfields on Sunday.

The game saw Belstone under pressure from the first to the last whistle as Broadfields came out looking to post their first win over their opponents in two seasons.

Belstone were hemmed back in their half for the first ten minutes and gave away a succession of corners and free-kicks, however, they were superbly dealt with by the strong defensive qualities of the team.

Then, after 12 minutes, Belstone had their first attack of the game when John Beschizza gained possession just inside his own half and played a lovely ball through the Broadfields high defensive line down the right hand touchline for Morgan Bryan to run onto. He took the ball to the byeline and cut the ball back for the onrushing Giles Arthur who slotted home from five yards out to make it 1-0 to Belstone.

The remainder of the first half saw Broadfields continue to pour forward, but they didn't really create any clear-cut chances and most of the pressure was easily dealt with by the superb Belstone defence. It was 1-0 at half time.

The second half saw much of the same, with Broadfields pouring forward but still without creating a clear scoring chance and again the Belstone team stood firm in the face of everything that was thrown at them.

However, what differed in the second half was that as Broadfields pushed for the equaliser, Belstone's forwards, Giles Arthur and Morgan Bryan, had chances to break away and created a number of clear cut chances which they failed to finish and put the game out of reach.

Late in the game, Broadfields had their only meaningful chance of the second half, but a tame shot from a wide angle was saved well by Malcolm Dunne in goal.

Credit must go to the following players who were outstanding on the day; Steve Huckle, Tom Greany, Phil Merritt, Chris Ingham, John Beschizza and Giles Arthur.