Report

The third visit of the Season to the money bags Sporting and a chance to redeem ourselves from the Boxing day mauling.
The rain hammered down putting the game in grave doubt but the weather relented to leave a very sticky surface, that would require a determined and courageous performance and the boy's certainly supplied a battling display
 We kicked off attacking down the slope and immediately looked the better outfit, Mcglen and Slevin were determined to be the governors in the engine room and they were tireless in their prompting  and probing and were easily the top performers of the day, slightly worrying really as every time we get a star player they are targeted by the money on offer .
The first half was mainly Fairfield's and Beagan had a great opportunity to open the scoring but he blazed over from a great opening.Smith was very unlucky to see his effort deflected against a post with the keeper helpless and Sproston and Smith saw goal bound efforts blocked.
Spor ting did open us up but Hancox made a super block even though he was hobbling on a nasty knee injury, and we were most definitely the better of the two sides and felt we were worth at least one goal advantage but had failed to notch.
Rogers replaced Hancox in goal but we were still the more likely winners at this stage. Again Beagan had an absolute sitter to open the scoring but his unchallenged header was hideously wide.
Smith had two shots blocked and Sproston missed another one on one chance he would normally bury but the keeper deserves credit in making the save.
The game reached the 78 minute and old boys Jon Rogers fired home although M. Rogers got a hand to the shot. Sporting could have increased their lead but Hatfield hacked a goal line clearance off the line, the resulting corner was headed goal bound and Rogers will feel disappointed to see the weak header escape his dive. 
Fairfield still looked to get into the game and Smith saw his tremendous shot thud the bar but Hatfield headed home the rebound to set up a furious finale. We pressed the home side back but just fell short and lost a game that we certainly deserved to win.
Full credit to the boy's for a tremendous effort but goals win games and the fact was they notched two to our one.
As a side we sare coming together and the future looks bright for next season if we can keep some of our lads out of Sportings clutches but money talks.