Clinical Cranleigh Take the Spoils
A bright, autumnal morning with dew on the grass, was the perfect setting for our match against local rivals, Cranleigh. Despite the rain, the pitch was in excellent condition and supported Loxwood's passing game. Once again, we started the better of the two sides, with Harry Hunter enjoying space and attacking runs down the left. Hunter had the first of the early chances, breaking down the left, cutting onto his right, but his effort curled into the arms of the grateful Cranleigh keeper. Minutes later and Hunter had another chance at the near post, but dragged his short just wide, with Mikey Arlett free in the middle with the goal at his mercy. Tom Pearce found space on the right several times, but his crosses into the box never quite found a Loxwood shirt. Both sides cancelled each other out for the next ten minutes, before Cranleigh took the lead with their first real chance, somewhat against the run of play. A long through-ball caught the Magpie's defence by surprise and their striker used his superior size and strength to fend off Will Dixon and send a low drive past Keegan Pafford in goal. Five minutes later and Cranleigh made it two with a well-worked goal. But Loxwood never gave up and came very close to getting a goal back just before half-time. Toby Chandler was sent clean through on goal, but hit his shot straight at the keeper and out to safety.
Loxwood started the second half in great style, a lovely ball fed George Lillywhite on the wing and his inch-perfect cross found Hunter at the far post, who could only cushion his header at the Cranleigh keeper. It was two let-offs either side of half-time that were to prove costly. Another longball and once again, the Cranleigh striker used his strength and shooting power to score a well-taken goal to make it three-nil. The fourth was a gift. A poorly taken goal kick and attempted flick-on, instead hit Dixon squarely on the forehead and fell into the path of the Whites' striker, who pounced to smash home from short range. Loxwood kept trying, but we failed to play to our strengths on the wings and Cranleigh grabbed a fifth. It wasn't a performance that deserved a 5-0 defeat, but while we missed some good chances, Cranleigh took theirs and goals change games and win matches. Once again, there was enough evidence that on another day, we can win matches like this.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Will Dixon, Toby Nicholls, Theo Rawlins, Tom Pearce, Louis Horsley, Harry Comber, Harry Hunter, Mikey Arlett, Toby Chandler, George Lillywhite.
MOM: Will Dixon
Loxwood started the second half in great style, a lovely ball fed George Lillywhite on the wing and his inch-perfect cross found Hunter at the far post, who could only cushion his header at the Cranleigh keeper. It was two let-offs either side of half-time that were to prove costly. Another longball and once again, the Cranleigh striker used his strength and shooting power to score a well-taken goal to make it three-nil. The fourth was a gift. A poorly taken goal kick and attempted flick-on, instead hit Dixon squarely on the forehead and fell into the path of the Whites' striker, who pounced to smash home from short range. Loxwood kept trying, but we failed to play to our strengths on the wings and Cranleigh grabbed a fifth. It wasn't a performance that deserved a 5-0 defeat, but while we missed some good chances, Cranleigh took theirs and goals change games and win matches. Once again, there was enough evidence that on another day, we can win matches like this.
Team: Keegan Pafford, Josh Arnold, Will Dixon, Toby Nicholls, Theo Rawlins, Tom Pearce, Louis Horsley, Harry Comber, Harry Hunter, Mikey Arlett, Toby Chandler, George Lillywhite.
MOM: Will Dixon
