Crusaders send Arseley home pointless with second half strikes

After a month without a win, it was good to get back to winning ways, although the heavy pitch and dull, damp, afternoon did not make for a particularly inspiring game, with mist shrouding the pitch near the end.
Both sides battled well throughout, but second-half goals from Charlie Mpi (pictured) and Mark Draycott earned us the points and took us back to 8th. place in the league.
James Clark fired well over after Mpi had been fouled, but speedy left-winger Jamil Shariffu looked dangerous and kept James Rusby on his toes. Lee Smith looked to be our most likely scorer, and twice tested Nick Thompson but half-time came with no goals and few real chances.
We had the advantage of the slope in the second half and soon took the lead, Mpi sending a looping header over the advancing keeper, who had raced well off his line, for the ball to bounce slowly into the empty net in the 54th. minute. Although Arlesey are in the lower reaches of the league, they certainly did not give up, putting up a spirited display, and as long as there was only a goal in it, victory was never certain. A Matt Collins corner was cleared off the line as we looked likely to increase the lead, but mist gradually shrouded the ground, although never bad enough to threaten the game, whilst the visitors did not relent, even though they seldom looked like scoring. After 84 minutes, we scored that vital second goal which made sure of the points when Draycott broke through and kept control to slide the ball past Thompson to secure a welcome, and long overdue win.
Team; Strudley, Rusby, John, Boardman, Day, Pilling(Horgan), Clark, Collins( Stow )Mpi(O,Brien)Draycott. Smith. Subs;Cann, Munday.