29th October 2006

Queens Park came away from their trip to Horley Town with three points and leapfrogged their opponents to take top spot in E&E U13 Division 1. Park ran out 7-4 winners in what was a thoroughly entertaining game of football, played in a great spirit by two good sides.

The game was only three minutes old when Horley took the lead but Park were back in front with only 8 minutes gone. First a Bartlett turn and shot squeezed in at the near post and then a Sandford strike hit the net via a slight deflection. Park's third came when Bartlett outpaced the defence to a Fitzpatrick through ball and rounded the keeper before slotting home. The first half continued with attack and counter attack but no further additions, Harvey making a couple of timely blocks in the Park goal and Johnson resolute in defence.

It was Horley who started the brighter in the second period and with two well worked goals they were soon on level terms. The next goal was crucial in deciding the result. It came from Bartlett who completed a deserved hat-trick with a superb finish, flicking the ball past the advancing keeper with his right foot. This rocked Horley and Park, with Honey dominating the midfield exchanges, took advantage as Varley fired in a quick brace. Another Fitzpatrick through ball set up the first and some dogged battling and a left foot strike made it 6-3 Park.

Horley came back to make it 6-4 before Sandford rode two tackles to lash the ball home and complete the scoring just before the finish.

Alex Dawkes took man of the match honours for another solid display but this was a great team performance from Park who played really attractive football all over the pitch to out-score an enterprising Horley outfit.
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Reporter: Martyn Dawkes