(C Reade 6, 46)
A weary and languid Garvary side suffered their first home defeat of the season against Isla Athletic on Sunday.
The majority of the side celebrated the birthdays of skipper Adam Moore and Garvary number one Craig Childs the night before the game and it showed as the Goldenbears produced a laboured second-half performance that allowed Isla to mount a sustained period of pressure and ultimately emerge victorious.
Garvary began brightly in the first half and their early patient build-up play was rewarded after only six minutes with Chris Reade tucking the ball past the ‘keeper to send his side into the lead.
On twelve minutes, Ekers – enjoying a return to action following a period on the sidelines with an ankle injury – picked up a loose ball 25 yards from goal before driving towards the 18-yard box and unleashing a low strike that was blocked by the defender.
The Goldenbears continued to threaten the Isla goal with Moore going close with a header at the far post following a short corner played in by Matt Reade.
Garvary again came close to doubling their advantage after a loose ball from another dangerous delivery by Matt Reade, this time from a free-kick wide on the right, fell to his brother Chris inside the area.
His left-footed strike was deflected on its way to goal and almost caught the goalkeeper out with Daniel Wilson challenging for the ball before being ruled offside.
But, only a minute later, Isla drew the score level.
Their forward was allowed too much time on the edge of the box and drilled the ball left-footed past the out-stretched arm of stand-in ‘keeper Marc Baker.
Garvary fought back in search of a goal that would regain their lead. Jamie Salmon – displaying an expansive passing array from the centre of midfield in the first half – sent Ekers through on goal, but the number 14 could only hit tamely at goal before being left rolling on the turf by a dangerously-late challenge.
Another Garvary break involving Salmon and Ekers found Matt Crumbie inside the 18-yard box but the tenacious forward was blocked off by his own teammate as he looked to get his strike away.
Isla countered the attack and were only denied by a great save by Baker after a defensive slip allowed their forward in on goal.
The game was proving to be an extremely open affair with both sides hitting each other on the break and Ekers had an opportunity to regain his side’s lead on the half-hour mark, but the number 14’s shot was blocked by the legs of the advancing ‘keeper when it appeared destined for the bottom corner.
A superb last-ditch challenge by Mark Underwood (pictured below) was required to prevent Isla taking the initiative, but the assured left-back was adjudged by the referee to have intentionally poked the ball back to Baker and Isla were awarded an indirect free-kick inside the 18-yard box.
The opportunity came to nothing but moments later Baker – irked by the referee’s decision – talked his way into the book.
Another vital challenge denied Isla another chance on goal; this time right-back James Lock – enjoying a solid game in a rare start – made a fantastic sliding interception to prevent the Isla striker a clear passage on goal.
Garvary began to lose the midfield battle but almost ended the half with the lead after Chris Reade’s cross from the left found Salmon at the near post whose close-range effort was desperately blocked by the ‘keeper.
The Goldenbears sprung from the trap in the second half and took the lead just 30 seconds in through the impressive Chris Reade.
To the jubilation of his teammates, Reade arrowed a sweetly-hit left-footed strike into the bottom right corner from all of 25 yards.
A free-kick effort 30 yards from goal struck agonisingly wide of the angle of bar and upright by Matt Reade on the hour mark signalled a down-turn in Garvary’s fortunes.
Lethargy settled into their play and what was a battling Garvary performance fell flat.
Isla bagged an equaliser on 63 minutes. The expert finish offered Baker no chance as it flew into the bottom corner.
Isla’s delivery from their numerous corner-kicks had caused the weary Garvary backline problems throughout the game and the away side almost took the lead on 70 minutes after drilling the loose ball from yet another corner at goal. Luckily for the Goldenbears, Baker was well-positioned to make a comfortable save.
The pressure mounted on Garvary and a third Isla goal appeared inevitable.
Baker was able to keep the rampant away side at bay with an expert save low down to his left as the game entered the final 15 minutes, but their goal came shortly after.
This time Baker was left stranded and Isla found the net from close-range on 82 minutes.
The Goldenbears could only muster a half-hearted fight-back and, in truth, never looked like finding a way back into the game after the goal; leaving them to face dejection at the final whistle.
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