Ide Hill got back to winning ways on Saturday after a patchy November, with a George Kensell first half volley enough to see the visitors home in a scrappy contest at Crockenhill.
The conditions and pitch did not make for entertaining or slick fare, but the Hill did just enough against their local rivals to seal the three points and take Ide Hill back up to third in the table as we approach the festive break.
Crockenhill perhaps should have taken an early lead, a long kick from their keeper caught out the Hill defence, but the Crockenhill forward, with an open goal, decided to check back and the chance was lost.
Ide Hill tried to get the ball down only sporadically, and when they did they passed through the lines and caused problems. The winning goal came from such a passage and was well worked, a quick break down the right saw the returning Columb Grant fire a long, flat square ball to Craig Jackson on the edge of the box, who flipped a first time pass through to George Kensell struck a controlled volley in off both posts for his sixth of the season and his third in two games.
The game was largely devoid of good chances on both sides thereafter and it was down to the defence and goalkeeper to see out the result, marshalled by a strong man of the match performance from Ben Pearson, and ably assisted at the back by Luke Steggle and Ben Holder. They held firm in the face of some late pressure and Ide Hill left with only their second clean sheet of the season and a crucial, if somewhat ugly win. Ide Hill also gave a debut to the promising young Rob Ainsworth, who slotted in at left wing back and was silky and composed on the ball in the second half.
Manager Paul McDonagh was happy to get the win: “I’m very pleased with the 3 points, considering the conditions and pitch, which didn’t lend itself to good football on either side. However, these are the games where you have to dig in and win and we did just that with a battling performance. It was great to have Ben Pearson back from injury, he made a huge impact on keeping Crockenhill out, as did the rest of the defence and goalkeeper in a much-needed clean sheet performance”.
Ide Hill play their final game of a memorable 2019 when they host K Sports Reserves, who sit in ninth place, this Saturday, December 14th.
