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Bayliss (pen)
Hickling
Ref: Stuart WadeNiffy Rangers (res)
Squad
Hoegger, Reece, Bowerman, S.Cobley, Jones, Hickling, Morgan, Goddard, McIntosh, Bayliss, Fisher, Knight, Laywood, MaherFosse City opened up the league campaign with an entertaining 3-3 draw with Niffy Reserves.
Goals by Morgan, Bayliss and Hickling ensured they earned a creditable draw against strong opposition.
It was a game of mixed emotions for Fosse as they had taken the lead twice, only to find themselves trailing with 10 minutes to go after a quick-fire double from the away side.
The first half was a tight affair with both teams finding it difficult to adapt to a poor pitch, typified by large patches of long grass.
Fosse took their time to get in to the game with Niffy using the direct approach to good effect.
Niffy’s front two were causing problems with their strength and squandered several clear-cut chances in the first half.
However, as the first half wore on, Fosse grew in confidence and started to exhibit some good phases of football.
Chances started to follow for Fosse too – two corners from the right saw Goddard first hit the crossbar from close in centrally and then the unmarked Jones heading wide at the back post.
As the first half came to a close, Fosse made the breakthrough – a strong run from Morgan through the centre was rewarded with him eventually walking the ball in to the back of the net.
Hillsdon’s half time team took seemed to have had the desired effect at the start of the second period – for the opposition.
Hoegger had seemingly collected a low cross from the left, but moments later he let the ball slip out of his grasp and a Niffy player was at hand to slot home fortuitously to level matters.
Soon after Fosse had taken the lead again – McIntosh was upended in the area and the ref pointed to the spot.
Bayliss took the resulting penalty and coolly converted it by stroking it low past the keeper’s right hand side
Niffy responded to the set back by reverting to three up front as they sought a way back in to the game.
Fosse looked comfortable at 2-1 and seemed to be coping with what Niffy could throw at them.
Although in the space of a couple of minutes, Niffy had turned the game on its head with two quick goals.
The equaliser came courtesy of Fosse not dealing with a long throw in from the left as a Niffy striker nipped in to stab home another close range effort.
With Fosse visibly disturbed by the leveller, Niffy took advantage by scoring a third soon after – a quickly taken throw in from the right saw a Niffy player turn well in the area and plant a curling left footed effort past Hoegger.
The game seemed to be running away from Fosse, but with about five minutes to go, they deservedly secured a draw through Hickling.
A clever corner by Morgan on the right allowed Hickling to emphatically slam home a close range volley to earn Fosse a share of the spoils.It was a fair result on the balance of play, though Fosse will be disappointed at the manner of the goals they conceded.
Report : M.Maher
