Streetlam Farmers 2

Rountons 4

THE bottom two in division one met in an entertaining relegation battle at Streetlam last Sunday.

With only one win between them so far this season, both teams were desperate to end the year on a high and keep alive their hopes of avoiding the drop.

It was a very nervy opening half hour with both teams showing a lack of confidence, but it was the visitors who began to get on top as the half wore on.

With the speedy Paul Tate causing problems to the Farmers defence, chances started to be created.

After 21 minutes Paul Kinsella played in Dave Porritt down the right, but he fired over from a good position.

Porritt then played in his brother Andy, but Tom Brown in the Streetlam goal made a smart save.

The goal which Rountons had been threatening duly arrived in the 32nd minute, but it was a somewhat scrappy affair. A series of corners from the left finally brought reward when Steve Harrison's in-swinger was not dealt with by the Farmers defence and Andy Hall's weak header at the far post somehow found its way into the net despite the efforts of Brown.

Six minutes later Streetlam should have been level when Michael Craggs got clear of the visitors' defence, but he pulled his shot wide of the target.

It proved to be a costly miss because within four minutes Rountons had made it 2-0. Tate's pace again took him clear of the Farmers defence and, although Brown did well to save his effort, Hall was on hand to fire in the rebound for his second of the match.

It looked very good for the visitors at half-time and their day appeared to be getting even better when they got a third early in the second half.

Tate got the goal he deserved when he twisted and turned on the edge of the area before firing a low shot into the far corner.

The match looked all over as a contest, but Streetlam had other ideas and began a thrilling fightback.

Craggs shot over from close range in the 50th minute and the home side were thrown a lifeline two minutes later. Jonathon Chown's free kick from the left was forced in at the far post by the ever dangerous Martin Burgess to make it 3-1.

Rountons were now struggling to get the ball out of their own half as the home side threw everything at them.

Burgess and Craggs combined well only for Craggs to fire over before Stuart Chapman shot wide from the edge of the box in the 61st minute.

With 20 minutes remaining substitute Anthony Thompson got clear down the left and his cross was met on the volley by Burgess, only for Ian Whitfield in the Rountons goal to keep it out.

Streetlam did get the goal their pressure deserved in the 75th minute. A great ball over the top by Burgess was finished in fine style by centre back Chapman.

The goal led to a frantic finale. Thompson headed over at the far post from a Chapman corner and moments later Burgess capitalised on some slack Rountons defending, only to be denied once again by Whitfield.

With five minutes left Streetlam put together a great move down the left involving Alistair Wilkin, Thompson and Craggs, but once again Whitfield came out on top in his personal duel with Burgess to keep Rountons ahead.

That proved to be the last opportunity Farmers had to salvage a point. In the final minute Rountons broke away to grab a fourth goal and wrap up their second league win of the season.

But there was a touch of controversy about it as Tate appeared to control the ball with his hand as he burst through. The referee allowed play to go on and Tate hit his second of the match from a tight angle to leave Streetlam frustrated.

Although their strong second-half comeback probably deserved at least a share of the points, Farmers had left themselves with just too much to do.

While their battle to avoid a quick return to division two will continue into the new year, Rountons can now look ahead to 2005 with renewed optimism that they can stay in division one.