Crusaders good form continues

This was another excellent performance against a team on the edge of the play-offs, although we probably ended their hopes with this win, two second-half goals giving us the victory after an even first half, Brett Donnelly’s sending off when we were already a goal up ending any hopes of a comeback by the Canaries.
Hitchin’s historic Top Field was quite heavy, but the home side had obviously worked hard to ensure its fitness and there were no problems, even though there were some postponements in the area. The home side started strongly. but our defence was in good form and we held their attacks fairly comfortably, full-back Ben Walster’s long range attempt was well wide and Paul Strudley saved comfortably from Michael Noone’s free-kick. Alan O’Brien was fouled when he broke away, but the free-kick came to nothing and Charlie Mpi flicked the ball wide when he got on the end of a long ball. A fierce shot from Mark Draycott brought a good save from Charles Horlock and the impressive Diak John overlapped down the left but could not create an opening, but it needed a good save from Strudley following a free-kick to deny the home side just before half-time.`
The game was obviously heading for a tight finish, but we got that vital goal only 4 minutes after the re-start, Mpi heading on a Matthew Collins free-kick for Gay Horgan to head in at the far post. Horlock came out well to save at the feet of Draycott, but Brett Donnelly earned himself a straight red card following a push in an opponents face and we were seldom troubled thereafter. Draycott broke away in the clear, but delayed his shot and Horlock was quickly off his line to save. O’Brien pace down the wings stretched the depleted home defence and a great run and a cracking finish from him made it 2-0 after 69 minutes so that we were able to coast through to the end untroubled for three valuable points.
Team; Strudley, Horgan,John, Rusby, Day,Pilling Clark, Collins,Mpi(Wilson),Draycott(Goodger)O’Brien(Tutu), Subs;Rees, Munday