Debenham LC FC welcomed Cornard United FC to Maitlands Football Ground for a Ridgeons League First Division match that had a look of top against bottom about it! The afternoon started off bright and sunny but became overcast as the sun went down and the chill breeze certainly brought out a number of woolly hats amongst the rather sparse crowd of supporters although there was no rain to affect the pitch which had seen a lot of preparation work in midweek and stood up well. We all hoped that a match against a team at the bottom end of the division would not be a proverbial banana skin as the Cornard team list was significantly different from that when Debenham won at Blackhouse Lane back in October.
The Hornets were glad to see the return of Lee Bloom after his one match suspension as we were without the services of club captain Ed Cussons who was away on a holiday break organised some time ago when we had a free weekend in the fixture list. Manager Dale Vince brought Liam Smith into the team to play in a wide attacking role with the unfortunate Ben Green being released to the bench which otherwise looked a bit lacking in experience and the remainder of the team was unchanged from last week’s match at Thetford. Goalkeeper Liam Jones took over the Captain’s armband for the match and certainly led from the front as Debenham were forced to defend for periods of the match.
Debenham started the match looking eager and in the 3rd minute a throw in from Tom Hardwick was played up the wing by Marc Wake for Liam Smith to send over a good cross that found leading scorer James Heathcote unmarked just eight yards from goal but his first time volley was misdirected and the ball sailed high over the bar.  Cornard matched that chance however on eight minutes when Scott Yearling was put clean through into the Debenham penalty box but Liam Jones stayed on his feet and made a masterful one handed save low to his right side that sent the ball wide of the goal and kept the visitors’ score sheet blank.
Debanham were playing a pleasing style of quick passing football as the ball was played through to the forwards but as is so often the case nowadays clear cut chances were few and far between as the new-look Cornard United line up looked much more compact and capable than in the reverse fixture played last October. Michael Beaton delivered a good forward pass on 19 minutes that found the head of Kevin Barker who was getting forward much more that we are used to seeing but his header, although well directed, was caught comfortably by the cornard keeper. Liam Bevis was playing his usual busy midfield game supplying the passes all around the pitch as Debenham struggled to get into the Cornard defence. Nathan Vincent was having a good game and he was unlucky after 26 minutes when a headed clearance from Lee Bloom landed at his feet and he set off on a 40 yard run that was ended by a rather cynical tackle just outside the penalty area. The resulting free kick was not good however as the ball flew straight to the goalkeeper who gathered it comfortably. The 23rd minute saw another good run this time from James Heathcote who used his pace to get past a defender then sprinted for the Cornard penalty area only to be brought to the ground by another poor tackle that saw the visitors’ captain Ben Russell cautioned. Unfortunately the free kick was not of the best quality again and the visitors’ keeper was able to defend it easily.
Rob Kemp sent a delightful chipped pass up the right wing on 37 minutes for Nathan Vincent to chase and he sent in a good deep cross that found Kevin Barker up with the attack again but Kevin was stretching to reach the ball and his header lacked power and drifted wide of the goal. Debenham continued to press with James Heathcote and Marc Wake earning corners but nothing came from them as Cornard crowded the penalty area and cleared the threat.

Half Time                  Debenham LC FC   0               Cornard United FC    0

The opening minutes of the second half saw Debenham applying pressure from both flanks as Michael Beaton and Rob Kemp sent in crosses and Kevin Barker saw his astute pass into the box intercepted as James Heathcote was about to pull the trigger. On 52 minutes a long goal kick clearance from Liam Jones bounced over a defender and left James Heathcote running into the penalty area but a good tackle from a defender ended his run whilst a number of free kicks given away by a robust tackling Cornard defensive line all ended up with no reward.
After all of the early pressure on the visitors’ goal Cornard ventured into the Debenham half and won a free kick just outside the penalty area on the left side with the clock saying 60 minutes. The ball was stuck towards goal and was kept out by a good diving save by Liam Jones but unfortunately he couldn’t keep control of the ball which ran free for substitute GLEKA NUWBANI to shoot home from close range and open the coring for the afternoon.
Ben Green replaced Marc Wake after 65 minutes as the Hornets continued to apply pressure without success and the best opportunity fell to Cornard’s number 9 Scott Yearling who had a clear sight of goal as he ran clear but his hurried shot was horribly misdirected and sailed well away from the goal when a better strike might well have won the game at this stage.
Nathan Vincent and Ben Green were keeping very bust as they ran at the Cornard defence but at each opportunity a tackle or a catch by the keeper kept the Hornets’ scoresheet blank. That is until the 84th minute when we were all thinking that this was to be a dismal defeat as a good run from Nathan Vincent saw him burst into the Cornard penalty area and shoot for goal only to see the ball bounce off the keeper and out of the penalty area to where substitute BEN GREEN tried a first time shot that saw the ball zip past Barry Lynn and into the net off the bottom of the left hand post. A really well taken goal by Ben and a great way to open his account for Debenham LC FC.
With only six minutes left on the clock Debenham attacked but could only managed shots from long range which failed to trouble the Cornard keeper and Liam Jones was kept busy as he punched a free kick away.
Neither side could muster another shot at goal and the game ended in a draw which was perhaps a fair result but certainly not what we were hoping for before the match.

Full Time             Debenham LC FC   1                Cornard United FC    1
                          Green  84                                  Nuwbani  60

Referee               Mr. S. Bassingthwaighte      Assistant Referees    Mr. C. Bond   Mr. G. Hetherington

Attendance         55

Debenham LC FC      Jones Capt, Kemp, Beaton, Barker, Hardwick, Bloom, Bevis, Vincent, L.Smith
                                 Wake, Heathcote      Substitutes   Green, Seccombe, N.Smith

Cornard United FC    Lynn, Short, M Yearling, Russell Capt, Wamner, Beckett, Carder, Thompson,
                                  S Yearling, Melia, Warren      Substitutes   Nuwbani, Lee
Cautioned                   Russell