OLDLAND WIN AS ROCKLEAZE ROCKED

A Mark Leigh double and a third from Tom Hutton looked to have given the O’s an unassailable lead half an hour in but the visitors hit back with two goals early in the second half and also hit the woodwork. But Oldland held on and could have added a fourth late on in an entertaining encounter.

Nigel Lee’s men looked bright early on with Ashley McDowell looking tricky and dangerous down the left. He twice set up Mark Leigh, the striker poking his first effort wide then forcing the keeper into a save with the second.

Oldland took the lead on seven minutes with a fabulous header from Leigh. Fernando Egui Dias swung over a swirling cross and Leigh met it perfectly with his head to leave the keeper helpless. The pair then combined again on eleven minutes but the keeper again denied Leigh, tipping the ball away for a corner.

The pressure continued from the O’s with Danny Carter’s curling effort saved but the O’s went two up midway through the half. Carter broke down the left, cut inside and pulled the ball back for Leigh. The striker’s effort went in off the post and the keeper, a little fortunate in the finish but no less than the attacking O’s deserved.

Sub Ashley Hawkins came on after the goal and he was architect of the third goal on 33 minutes. His perfectly delivered free kick was met by Tom Hutton who thumped a header into the back of the net.

The second half began with more Oldland pressure and McDowell came close after creating space for himself but the next goal surprisingly came at the other end when James Cinicola’s finish found the back of the net. Rockleaze then hit the woodwork before pulling a second goal back three minutes later with a low drive from Rhys Davies.

With half an hour left, the game ebbed and flowed with Hutton testing the keeper and Ryan Perry holding everything that Rockleaze threw at him in the Oldland goal. Late on, McDowell fired over from a tight angle and then set up Carter but the forward’s shot wouldn’t bend enough and went wide.

Team: Ryan Perry, Jack Sheppard, Kevin Williams, Liam Planter, Ryan Day, Tom Hutton, Fernando Egui Dias, Kris Douglas, Ashley McDowell, Mark Leigh, Danny Carter.

Subs: Ashley Hawkins, Lee Corbiere