Report sourced by Sam Collins
GEORGE Davis’s late goal – on his Earlswood Town league debut – was not enough to prevent his side from falling to a 2-1 defeat against league leaders Cadbury Athletic.
Early goals from Ethan Hanks and Adam Bourn put Cadbury into a comfortable lead before Davis grabbed a late consolation for the visitors.
The result leaves Earlswood in 11th place in the Midland Football League Division Two table – four points above the bottom after 12 matches.
Cadbury took the lead after just two minutes when David Wilson laid the ball off for Hanks who curled an effort into the far corner from a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area.
The hosts doubled their lead when Bourn stooped low to head home Daiyaan Ali’s cross at the near post.
Despite the deficit – Earlswood found their feet but struggled to break down a Cadbury side who have conceded just six goals all season.
Town’s Daniel Kerrigan made a difference in the attacking third on his return to action but Earlswood lacked any real cutting edge.
At the other end Town keeper Alastair Lewis made a fantastic double save, 15 minutes from time, to keep his side in the game.
Earlswood finally pulled a goal back when Davis finished off a tidy counter-attacking move with just two minutes left to play.
However, the away side were unable to find an equaliser in the final few moments but can take heart from their display against the division’s only remaining unbeaten side.
Earlswood return to action against Fairfield Villa on Saturday, November 6 with kick-off at 2pm at The Pavilions.
Earlswood XI: Lewis, Price, Coleman, Walker, Froggatt (Kerrigan 45′), Beale (Wright 63′). McKenzie (Doyle 58′), Donlevy, Matthews, Green, Davis.
Subs not used: Benjamin, Pemberton.
