The ressies returned to league action against a well organised and effective Bly Spartans XI and can pleased with the final outcome if not the second half performance. We opened up superbly with defensive debutants Dwayne Patrice and Anton Johnson proving an excellent shield at the back and the returning Dan Hinton bursting forward at regular intervals. However, our inability to be ruthless in front of goal once again hampered the team and could later in the match have proven costly. Harrison Derry put wide when in front of goal, Billy Perry saw his free header go wide and Nick Taylor, after an excellent piece of build up work with Luke Jenner, hit the side netting when through one on one with the keeper. Coupled with a lack of luck - one goalmouth scramble saw the ball hit the crossbar before eventually reaching safety, and the denial of a fairly clear cut penalty after a trip on Nick - and this appeared to be proving a frustrating afternoon. However, with about 10 minutes to go, skipper Jason Coates picked up the ball thirty yards out, took one step forward before firing home beyond the arms of the despairing keeper.

Half-time: 0-1

The second half went somewhat differently. We started well enough, although survived an early scare when Tom Derry smothered well in goal and early on in the half looked as though we may wrap it up when Harrison’s speculative cross from the right headed towards goal only for the keeper to scoop it out from under the cross bar. Which proved just as well as all hell would have broken loose if the ball had gone into the net as the referee blew for the most ridiculous off-side most in the ground had ever seen. However, that didn't explain our drop off in work rate for the next 25 minutes which could easily have seen us concede an equaliser were it not for a series of excellent saves from Tom. A reversion to 4-4-2 helped stifle the Bly wingers, with Josh Hamit proving a useful outlet upfront with his pace and we looked stronger again in the last 10 minutes. Full-time: 0-1

On balance, the victory was just about deserved, but a lesson in the need to take our chances when they present themselves and to maintain our focus and work rate throughout.

Team: Tom Derry, Dan Hinton, Billy Perry, Jason Coates ©, Anton Johnson, Dwayne Patrice, Pete Nolan, Nash Majome (Brain Allen), Nick Taylor (Josh Hamit), Luke Jenner, Harrison Derry. Subs not used: Tom Perkins, Ross Huxley, Greg Majome
Man of the Match: Tom Derry - dominated his box throughout and a couple of stunning saves in the second half that enabled the victory.

Bly Spartans Reserves 0 Coney Hall Reserves 1