MATCH REPORT 15/12/07 FIRST TEAM

For the third time in four weeks Freethorpe were up against second division opposition. And although this week the result was not favourable the performance was very commendable. In the quarter finals of the Cyrill Balyn Cup hosts Horsford Utd took the lead after just 3 minutes when the alert striker atttacked the near post from a well taken corner. Freethorpe regrouped and gradually played themselves into the game and topscorer Rix equalised on 20 minutes with an exsquisite finish from a very acute angle. Horsford regained their lead 5 minutes later when the striker turned inside Burns and stuck home into the far corner. Once again Freethorpe showed tremendous character against higher opposition and fought back to equalise when Mark Brown finished a good run down the right flank with a well taken goal. The second half saw Freethorpe start to dominate the play and on a number of occasions had their opponents on the backfoot. The midfield got hold of the first ball and used it wisely to create problems for the home team. With 15 minutes remaining a decisive moment in the game happenend when the alert Read latched onto a throughball and rounded the keeper before drilling the ball across the face of the goal to Rix who was extremely unlucky to put the ball over the bar from close range following a last ditch deflection from a lunging defender. Freethorpe were to rue the missed chance when with 5 minutes remaining Horsford took the lead at a freekick. Freethorpe immediately pushed forward in search of an equaliser and got caught to concede another late goal to make the final score 4-2. A very good cup tie with both teams competing extremely well and Freethorpe can consider themselves unlucky to have lost. Good luck to Horsford in the next round. Next Match: away to Newton Flotman 2pm kick off.