Trowbridge's clear-cut home win was due largely to the effective tackling and accurate constructive play of their middle line. Lovesey, Tuck and Marshall. This supremacy might easily have produced a much bigger victory had their inside forwards possessed the shooting "punch" of the opposing trio. Moon, Leamon and Baker. Grimason missed some particularly gilt-edged scoring chances in most aggravating manner. In fact, he seemed to tire himself out running about much more than was necessary, and when it came to kicking he had no power. Leamon would, we think, have reaped a "bag'' of goals from such opportunities went to Grimason.
All In all, it was a keen interesting match - full of fast, thrustful play by both teams. In the early stages Street might well have established a good lead but for some superb tackling by the home halves and Sutherland at left back, who was particularly effective with his headwork in the second half. Vince, too, had a fine afternoon in goal - as spritely and clean in his handling as we have seen him for many a match.
After Tuck had smothered a hard shot by Leamon, Trowbridge attacked hotly and there were some exciting moments in Cox's goalmouth. Leamon was a grand raider for Street and Moon a first-class schemer. So strong were the defences, however, that surprise shots became the order. One from Moon - a sharp, rising flick which "screwed" the ball trickily, was caught and cleared in first-rate style by Vince. Then Cox saved a grand shot from Haddon bang on the goal-line. First goal of the match came in 28 minutes. It came from a Webb centre, Hancock scoring in a hectic scrimmage almost on the goal-line. More raids by Street - all broken by superb defence play - and then another bombardment of Street's goal, in which Webb and Haddon both shot against the crossbar in the space of a minute. Then Marshall, always ready for a shot, was well up to meet the ball and crash it wide of Cox. Five minutes from half-time a delightful forward movement ended in Leamon receiving the ball unmolested, and he promptly turned it into the home goal. Grimason netted again for Trowbridge, but it was disallowed after the referee had spoken to linesman.
Haddon put Trowbridge farther ahead after 50 minutes from an indirect free kick taken by Lovesey. Cox saved at full length from Haddon. Trowbridge's third goal was the reward of persistent following-up by Greenland - the unluckiest Trowbridge forward so far as scoring went. Although harassed by two defenders Greenland managed to screw the ball across the goalmouth when it appeared to be running outside, and Grimason merely had to walk it into the net. Marshall-Lovesey effort started this scoring move. Grimason, clear of everybody, including the goalkeeper, shot so tamely that the ball only just reached the foot of an upright and it was cleared. Street tried hard but were denied another goal.
Trowbridge team: Vince; Hulbert, Sutherland; Lovesey, Tuck. Marshall: Haddon, Greenland, Grimason, Hancock, Webb.
Report from The Wiltshire Times
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