Thaxted Rangers Yellows 1 : 6 Dunmow Rhodes

After last week’s sterling performance in the first league game of the new season, the Yellows faced a new adversary in Dunmow Rhodes, one of the under 18 teams in the new league. Older and stronger their opponents may have been but with only ten men to face the Yellows’ 11 plus subs, we were hoping that another exciting contest was on the way in the unseasonal Autumn sunshine.

Alas, the boys were two behind within seven minutes and three behind before the half hour mark. Sadly, individual unforced errors (as they say in tennis) accounted for two of them and the team’s fighting spirit was visibly ebbing away as half time beckoned. Only Zach’s effort against the crossbar gave a glimmer of hope to the home supporters.

Ben replaced Henry between the sticks for the second half but Dunmow found the net immediately from the restart. The goal was not without controversy, however, as there was a strong suggestion that the ball had been kicked out of Ben’s hands. Happily, the Yellows’ reply was instant. Christian’s cross found Zach in the box and the latter responded sharply for his first goal of the season.

But two more from Dunmow ensured this was not a game to send our players or supporters home with a smile on their faces.