Subs: 12 D clarke (on for D woodley 66mins), 14 A Garman( on for Leach 66mins), 15 N Russell (on for M Gall 30mins), 16 B Radley, 17 M Norris
yellow: D Ellis
Red: Rye 0 - L Common 1
Goals: None
Final Score: 0-1
.....................................
Little Common win

Rye U 0 - 1 L Common

A warm and tranquil evening welcomed a fair crowd to see another first and second clash at the salts. Rye again started well with Danny Woodley putting the ball to Leach who refused to let fly at first sight of goal, Woodley working hard straight away to chase for the ball.

A different story at the other end when Little Common were egging on their players to shoot early. This was to be the main difference in the first half with LC trying shots from anywhere and Rye wanting to make one more pass. Gardner was called to gather and moments later the away team screaming for a closed down shot going to a Rye hand.

Little Common then showed some good passing moves and ended with a speculative over head kick inside the 18 yard box that went well high and wide. Rye then had a decent attack as Woodley drew defenders wide Leach ran onto goal but shot wide. Rye started to get back into it a bit more and when Marc Gall was fouled McArthur swung over a cross that was put out for a corner.

Another corner followed good defending and Shaun Loft came close with a volley thundering wide. Woodley then ran to the line and flung in a cross met by Leach whose effort was unfortunately blocked. The game was opening out with both teams having good possession and creating chances but Little Common were unlucky when on 20 minutss they headed against the post. Marc Gall was replaced by Nathan Russell due to several clatters and was holding his ear as he went off.

Rye on 35 had their closest chance to open the scoring when a Duncan McArthur free kick was dummied and went just wide. However when the Commoners let a shot off from outside the 18 yard box Gardner tipped it wide but got a faint touch at the expense of a corner. It was from this corner on 35 mins that LC eventually got the ball in the net after Rye having a few attempts to clear. Another foul on a rye player gave McArthur a chance to sting the keepers hands and out for a corner. Rye nearly equalised when Woodley running towards the ball and in front of goal connected with a deflected flick.

The defender blocked his goal bound effort without knowing it. The half ended with a tame shot on target by LC with Gardner easily gathered SEcond half started with Little Common being the most organised and they pressured Rye every time they had the ball. The first incident of note was free kick Leach won for being held down but the kick was wasted and the Commoners ended up playing a ball for their attack. Macca then won and took a delightful curling free kick that was a foot wide.

Common closed down Rye and after a defensive error where clean through but their shot also going wide of the mark. Gardner was forced to make a fine block and then save the rebound hit back at him on 11 minutes. Ellis and McArthur both dropped deeper to try and bring the ball away for Rye. Little Common going close again from a double corner when a header went over the bar. On 16 mins Martin scuffed his shot when good wing work from Cole put him in a good position. Leach again wanting more time than Common were willing to give him as he gathered inside the area.

The Commoners won their second yellow for a foul on lofty. The free kick put over the bar by a defender but it could have gone anywhere. Woodley off for Clarke and Leach off for Garman. Another poor Rye free kick delivered into the area ended with Little Common breaking out and Gardner having to save Rye once again. The following Rye free kick was nearly headed by Clarke but the keeper plucked it off his head. On 32 mins LC had their last real effort at goal when they blasted a free kick over the bar.

The play now was virtually all Rye But they gave the ball away easily and over hit their passes. This was confirmed when Ellis who had been tamed so far let fly but too high. Then Lofty latched onto a ball over the top bringing it down on his toe, only for the finish to float wide of the keeper and the goal.

Little Common went down to 10 after a second yellow the resulting free kick headed again wide by Clarke. Macca lobs into the keepers hands and Nathan Russell heading just over the bar was Ryes last chance
to score.

I thought Little Common bossed the first half scored and Rye didn’t really react until the last 10 or 15 when they didn’t give in and went extremely close at least 3 times. Rye had more shots in the second half than their opponents but they left it too late.

Shots rye 10 LC 13

Yellow RYE 1 Ellis

Little Common 4

Red: RYE 0

Little Common 1