Win was a battle, says Watters

Mott MacDonald 0 Steeple Morden 2 STEEPLE Morden chalked up another victory to maintain their top three spot in BIS Division 3A. Playing on a sloping pitch and in blustery conditions against the division s bottom side unsettled Steeple at first, but thei

Mott MacDonald 0

Steeple Morden 2

STEEPLE Morden chalked up another victory to maintain their top three spot in BIS Division 3A.

Playing on a sloping pitch and in blustery conditions against the division's bottom side unsettled Steeple at first, but their opponents lacked the composure to convert their chances.

Steeple's keeper Tim Tidey pushed a couple of early speculative efforts wide, but it was not long before the away team got into their stride.

Martyn Lees found the side netting after a flowing move involving the central midfield pairing of Charlie Prothero and Dom Holt, and young full-back Martin Donald.

Lees was then involved in a bright exchange with Martin Holt before finding Ben Holt, whose volley flew just over the bar.

The deadlock was finally broken on the half-hour mark, with Lees finishing off a great team goal.

Prothero won an aerial battle and flicked the ball on to Dom Holt who hit an exquisite cross-field pass to Lees, who calmly controlled the ball before stroking it past the home keeper.

Steeple Morden kept the squeeze on their opponents, but central defenders Laurence Harrison and Darren Jarman were unable to convert corners.

Lees was also denied a second goal by a fine low save, but a second goal for the team was not long off.

A burst of speed saw Ben Holt rip through the home defence, and his cross found skipper Dom Holt who drilled the shot hard and low into the bottom corner to seal the three points.

Assistant manager Karl Parr came on for the hard-working Dom Oxenford, and was unlucky when a fine lob from 20 yards was harshly ruled out for offside.

Parr should have done better moments later when he failed from close range to convert a fine run and cross from Joe Morris.

Manager Kenny Watters was content with the three points.

He said: "It was our most disappointing performance for some time, but we kept a clean sheet and chalked up another victory.

"We played in fits and starts. In a long season you get games like that, and it is important we battle on and don't let points slip away."

Steeple will hope to maintain their position in the top three when they take on Hundon Reserves at home on Saturday

Morden: Tidey, Donald, Jarman, Harrison, M Holt, Morris, D Holt, Prothero, B Holt, Oxenford (Parr), Lees.