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It was an eventful afternoon down at Honey Lane, where Punjab won 2-1 following a thrilling clash. Here is a run of everything that happened.
Punjab started attacking from the off, able to regain possession and launched a 1st minute counterattack, unfortunately the through ball cross was waived offside. However this initial pace set the tone for the rest of the match.
Bearsted conceded lots of free kicks in the opening minutes. The first two went nowhere, but as they say the third times the charm and Chris Edwards delivers a perfect ball into the box to an unmarked Jack Barry, who finishes the cross in a calm and collected fashion, dishing it past the keeper at the left post, and with that it was 1-0 Punjab in the 13th minute.
Not even a minute later, following great offensive pressure from our attacking forwards, Bearsted give the ball away in their own half, and following some great tiki-taka play, the ball works it way into the right flank where it is slid in by Chris Edwards and meets the feet of Wayne Bushell who’s flicked shot was excellently saved by the keeper. Punjab went forward again from that same attack with Hudson attacking his full-back and got a shot off but was easily saved by the keeper.
After 20 mins, Bearsted seemed to be playing with a chip on their shoulder and pushed down the left wing in the 21st minute where Robbie Roberts get’s a shot away, but Owen Bushell makes a brilliant stop to keep Punjab in the lead.
Unfortunately, Punjab couldn’t close out the 1st half in the way they would have liked, as Bearsted scored following a free-kick from 25 yards out. This all occurred when Kyden Thomas brought down the Bearsted attacker after being played through on goal but not last man. After such a great first half for Punjab, it was frustrating to concede so late on but a very good half where they should have been more goals ahead.
Punjab got the second half underway and they bursted out of the gates with another great chance. A long ball by Owen was flicked on by Cruis Nyadzayo to Reece Deakin who combined well with Wayne Bushell and play him through on goal and at that moment you just knew what was going to happen. He strikes the ball powerfully past the goalkeeper to make it 2-1 and give Punjab the lead.
Punjab didn’t stop there as in the 56th minute, Cruis Nyadzayo broke away through on goal, 1v1 against the keeper but his shot was saved by the Bearsted keeper and kept them in the game.
Punjab did go down to 10 men when captain Steve Ratcliff took out the Bearsted attacker on the edge of the box which resolved in a second yellow and Punjab were down to 10 men for 20 mins of the match.
Punjab defended well for the rest of the match which frustrated Bearsted and they went down to 10 men when Billy Lewis through the ball at Hudson who was on the floor.
Punjab were able to put on a strong defensive performance for the rest of the game, holding Bearsted out of the 6 yard out for a big chunk of the second half, and with that they closed out the game, earning themselves a strong 2-1 win.
This win means Punjab sit firmly in 4th position, only 6 points behind first place.
XI and Subs: Bearsted FC
Leonard, Agbudume, Nurden, Turton, Hugsley, Melvin, Roberts, Lewins, Darko, Stace, Hassan; SUBS: Flisher, Mallett, Johnson-Cole, Hagan, French
XI and Subs: Punjab United
Bushell, Edwards, Thomas, Barry, Ratcliff (C), Campbell, Bushell, Deakin, Nyadzayo, Scudder, Moynes; SUBS: Hayes, Hussain, Ibrahim, Youngah, Probets
Goals for Bearsted: Adam Turton 41st minute
Goals for Punjab United: Jack Barry 14th minute, Wayne Bushell 52nd minute
You can watch to Chipie's post-match reaction, highlights of the game, and vote for your MOTM below.
MOTM vs Bearsted FC
Owen Bushell
Chris Edwards
Kyden Lewin-Thomas
Jack Barry
Thank you all for your support, and thank you for reading.
Written by Sahib Singh Khera.
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