Easington’s run of victories in the league came to an end against second in the table Fairford Town FC. In a game of few chances, goals from Aiden Bennett and Connor Thompson meant the visitors went home with all three points.

Both sides attacking players started the game well and balls in behind the defences caused problems in an end to end start to the game. On a heavy surface, players were finding it difficult to adjust and so the game took some time to settle down with passes not quite finding feet. Visiting keeper Ellis Harrison was the first into action making a good save from a shot from Jack Dunmall before going on to make a number of comfortable saves from shots just inside the box.

Easington looked a threat from set pieces, but again the visiting side defended well.
Joe Eyre had to make a great goal saving clearance towards the end of the first half but it was Fairford that took the lead. A shot from Aiden Bennett was blocked in the box and then ball fell kindly for Connor Thompson who shot early across the keeper. It looked like Adam Rimmer had made a great save but unfortunately he couldn’t quite palm the shot around the post and it just crept in.

Perhaps the key decision of the half went against Easington on the stroke of half time when a Fairford player could have been sent off. A good early ball from Adam Rimmer caught the Fairford defence out and as Jack Dunmall went to lob the keeper he was pulled back. The fast break also appeared to surprise the officials and they were not in the right place to make a decision and so Sports were only awarded a corner after Harrison deflected Dunmall’s shot wide.

0-1 half time – However Easington could feel disappointed to not be leading at half time.

The second half was a much more even affair and defences were more on top in the game. Adam Rimmer made a fantastic save rushing out to parry a shot from Thompson after he latched onto a flick on from Aiden Bennett. Easington’s Piers Walton also broke through one on one with the keeper but his shot went just past the post.

In a tight game, the next goal was always going to be crucial and Fairford took their opportunity scoring a soft goal. Rimmer made a good save but he could not hold onto the shot and following a bit of a scramble, Aiden Bennett was the first to react and he tapped home from close range to make it 0-2.

Matt Giles reacted and made changes to get back into the game but Fairford showed why they are contesting the league title this season and closed out the game well They still had a late shot that grazed the post. Sports battled well and kept going to the end but the game ended 0-2 leaving Matt Giles’ men ruing missed opportunities in the first half.