Battling Yobbos keep title race boiling over

Yobbos 3, UHC 2

MOSGROVE'S Yobbos dealt Clubhouse UHC's title hopes a blow with a battling victory on Saturday. As with several matches so far this season, it was distinctly a game of two very different halves.

The first, in a biting wind, took an age to spark into life. Scrappy play produced few clear-cut chances.

Yobbos' Nick Saunders finally broke the deadlock eight minutes before the break.

Having just missed a far easier chance, his shot from three yards crashing against a post and somehow staying out, the striker brought an end to a short-corner scramble by lifting the ball into the far top corner from a nearly-impossible angle.

But the second period was markedly improved. The passion in midfield threatened to overflow at times. There was more bite to the tackling, due in no small part to the physical play of Michael Newton.

Yobbos were given the opportunity to double their advantage from the spot after Nick Mann blocked a pass across the D with his reverse side.

Tony Veillard needed no second invitation, giving keeper Paul Bullock no chance.

Back came UHC, forcing Yobbos into some rearguard action. The whites defended deep and in numbers, frustrating UHC.

It took a burst down the left from Matt Keyho to create space in the Yobbos D, his pass to Rob Newton converted with power across keeper Adrian Gidney.

Any hopes of a comeback were ruined by Richard Veillard. After UHC were reduced to 10 men - Michael Newton talking himself into a yellow card - Veillard hit the third. It was not his cleanest strike, but was a deserved goal, reward for the midfielder's fine contribution to his side's cause.

Still UHC battled. Jordan Smith was felled by a sliding Gidney and Rob Newton buried the stroke.

The watch ticked on to nearly 39min., but Yobbos held out.

n*Defending champions Investec Colombians beat Colombians Youth 6-1 with goals from Adam Kitching (two), Chris Gill, TJ Ozanne (two) and Tim Creasey.

John Norman hit a deserved consolation goal for the Youth side.