Seventh win in a row puts Yobbos in the driving seat

The pink-and-whites have now played a game more than both of their title rivals, but they have firmly established themselves as favourites for the crown thanks to the undoubted quality they possess, the momentum they have built since November and their propensity for winning very tight games of which this was yet another.

Not that an initial glance at the team sheets would have indicated it being so beforehand as although Yobbos were missing a couple of regulars, that was nothing in comparison to Colombians who fielded a bare XI of whom only half-a-dozen would usually turn out for the first team.

But Zak Damarell’s side knew their limitations on the day, set out to make life as difficult as possible for the opposition and came very close to frustrating the league leaders in the horrible wet and windy conditions that remarkably seemed to increase dramatically at the sound of the first whistle.

There was little sign of what was to come, though, as Yobbos got off to the ideal start with a goal in the first five minutes from a familiar source.

It was Ant Stokes who won the first penalty-corner of the game and his brother Matt who made the chance count, his drag flick just too quick for young Tom Judd who was standing in for Jake Le Marchant in goal for Colombians.

But fears that the early goal might open the floodgates proved unfounded and Colombians immediately forced a couple of shorts themselves with TJ Ozanne’s shot saved at the second of those.

There was little in the way of goal-mouth action for the next 20 minutes, which suited the yellows down to the ground as they comfortably kept the deficit to a single goal knowing that Damarell, Sam Dawes and Hamish Glass would be able to create opportunities at the other end.

Seven minutes before the interval, that trio all played a part in the equaliser.

A delightful piece of stick work from Dawes sparked the attack with his probing ball looking for Glass’ run put out of play by a covering defender.

Damarell took the subsequent long-corner quickly and, having made his way into the left-hand side of the D, he let fly with a reverse stick shot that Dawes brilliantly deflected past Jack Webber with great precision.

That goal saw the sides go into half-time level and it was obvious from their body language that Colombians had renewed belief that they could take something from the game.

They so nearly took the lead in the first minute of the second period, too, when their captain made light of having his back to goal by shifting the ball onto his reverse and quickly getting off a snap shot that flashed across the face of goal and just wide.

Yobbos' task was then made harder for five minutes when Will Thompson was shown a yellow card for tripping Damarell, but they got through that period unscathed and then started pushing for a winner in the last 20 minutes.

They should have retaken the lead when Ryan Gilson won the ball high up the pitch to spring an attack in which Kev Smith teed up Steve Eulenkamp, but the development officer turned the ball in with the back of his stick as he slid in at the far post.

A minute later, Judd made a fine save to deny Matt Stokes at a short-corner, with Jonny Clark putting the rebound just wide and as the game entered its final quarter Ant Stokes fired over the bar on the reverse.

The pressure was growing, though, and it told with quarter-of-an-hour remaining.

The winner came at another short-corner, but this time Matt Stokes slipped it right to Smith whose square ball evaded the older Stokes on the stretch. but not injector Clark, who turned it home.

Yobbos had to withstand a couple of Colombians attacks as they searched for a second equaliser in the closing stages and Fergal Morrissey made a vital block from Dawes with five minutes remaining to ensure his side picked up another big three points with a 2-1 win.