UEA Grind Out a Win

There was midweek disappointment as UEA football’s BUCS side fell to defeat at the hands of Derby, however, the Saturday team made it eight straight league wins scoring their 100th goal of the season in the process.

UEA began confidently in possession but without any real cutting edge in the final third with the opposition proving industrious in the middle of the park. The physical nature of the contest resulted in the loss of key player Gwion An Daffyd who suffered from a recurring injury.

In acres of space

UEA continued to push and found the breakthrough with Dingli skipping through three defenders to find the net from a tight angle. The lead lasted only a matter of minutes as a Thorpe free kick was bundled home to level the contest.

Once again half time brought about some strong words with the Yellows clearly frustrated with the first forty five minutes.

UEA continued the dominate possession in the second half with Thorpe resorting to long balls in their search for a second. It was UEA though who got the game’s third goal, centre-back Altay found space at the front post to fire into the roof of the net. It was the centre-back’s fifth strike in three games.

UEA began to create more after that strike with Calvo, Dingli and Pachnis all coming close to extending the lead. Failure to take those chances proved costly as Thorpe drew level, a free man pounced on a loose ball, lashing home giving keeper Kibbey no chance.

UEA displayed impressive determination though and hauled themselves back into the lead for the third time in the match, Calvo provided a superb assist to find Pachnis who buried the chance. Thorpe could not muster enough to comeback for a third time ensuring Pachnis’ strike was the decider.

The performance may not have been as strong as wished however the desire shown in tough conditions was a positive.