Six point holiday for Fleet

Report by Steve Cantle

Eddie Smith scores from the spot	Phil John scores the winner in extra time

It was a six-point holiday weekend for Fleet Town as Andy Sinton’s men went leaping up the Ryman League table to 4th spot.

On Saturday a late goal by sub Ed Smith saw Fleet spring a surprise at highly fancied Dover Athletic in front of over 700 home supporters. Two days later an injury-time winner by Phil John saw them grab the points at Calthorpe Park against an unbeaten Walton Casuals.

It all added up to Fleet’s best-ever season start at this level, and the best possible preparation to this season’s FA Cup competition which starts on Saturday with the visit of Thatcham Town to Fleet (ko 3pm).

Saturday’s winner at Dover followed a goal-less first half, which saw the home side squander several chances as well as some great blocks by Fleet keeper, Justin Gray. Fleet took the lead in the 72nd minutes after midfielder, James Field was brought down on the left wing. Field got up and took the free kick himself, which he drove hard into the goal area. The ball hit one of the Dover defenders and popped up into the air. Fleet’s Ed Smith was the first to react, nodding the ball in from about 8 yards to secure the win. Fleet simply out-worked Dover and thoroughly deserved the win.

Monday’s visitors to Calthorpe Park, Walton themselves had a fine win two days before, beating Met Police by a clear margin, and with Fleet taking only one point from their two meetings last season, this was going to be another tough test for Sinton’s men.

After a brief flurry at the start by Fleet, which saw a free-header go wide from Ben White, Walton slowly took control. The visitors looked more confident on the ball, and were not allowing Fleet to settle. But after an injury to defender James Mann on 41 minutes, Sinton changed things around, bringing on Ed Smith up front to partner Jermaine Hamilton. The change worked for Fleet, when a few minutes later Smith ran on to a pass from Hamilton, and was brought down just inside the penalty area. Smith got up and smashed in the resulting spot-kick for Fleet to take the lead.

A minute later it was back all-square. A knock-on from a long throw-in from the left was just tipped over the bar by Gray. But from the resulting corner Fleet failed to clear and the ball ended up the net after a goal-line scramble.

Playing down the slope in the second half, Fleet immediately took control. But despite several great strikes from both Field and Phil John, Walton keeper, Matt Reid was able to keep the scores level with several fine saves.

With 90 minutes gone the game looked like finishing an even 1-1. Then after 4 minutes of injury-time Fleet won a free-kick 35 yards out, after Phil John was brought down. There was just enough added-time remaining for John’s long-distance curling strike to beat the diving Reid, leaving Fleet with all three points.