Churchill Club 70 enjoyed their first victory of the year, with a 3-2 success over Street Reserves.

Churchill Club 70 3

Street Res 2

CHURCHILL recorded their first win of this calendar year, albeit in a pre-season friendly, but against a team a division higher (Division 1 in the County League) than themselves.

This was the first game for the new management team of Tim Richens and his assistant Paul Chick and both were delighted.

Churchill started with a couple of new players, but most were long-standing Churchill players and they were also able to replace many in the second half in order for Richens and Chick to have a look at the whole squad.

Lining up with a new formation of 4-3-3, Churchill knew they had goals in them and the forward line of Aaron Blakemore, Matt Duncan and Joe Kay, were a threat throughout, well supported by the midfield of Paul Dolbear, Matt Lacey and Tom Fozzard.

The game was allowed to flow throughout by the excellent refereeing of Andy Lambourn and this suited both teams, who were set up for fast counter attacking football.

Churchill took a deserved lead as Lacey broke up play, set up Dolbear and the skipper clipped a beautiful chip to Joe Kay to volley home from 15 yards out.

The solid defence of Nathan Giles, Elliot Nelson, James Goodland and Alex Charalambous kept their shape throughout and chances were few and far between. When Street did get through, they were thwarted by an excellent performance by Chris James in the home goal.

Churchill made numerous changes at the break and Street equalised in the 70th minute.

From the kick-off, Fozzard regained the ball and nonchalantly chipped the keeper to restore the Churchill lead and it was the same player who seemed to have capped the win with Churchill’s third and final goal.

Street ensured a tense finish with the fifth goal of the afternoon, but Churchill held out for the victory.