LEAGUE TWO - MARK BLAIR MORTGAGE & FINANCE SWAN DIVE FC 0 - 2 GRENDON FC Niall Simmons Reporting

LEAGUE TWO - MARK BLAIR MORTGAGE & FINANCE
SWAN DIVE FC 0 - 2 GRENDON FC

Niall Simmons Reporting

Swan Dive welcomed Grendon to Bramcote as Swan Dive looked for 3 points that would send them 2nd. Grendon have proven to be a tough side to beat this season and have won 7 of their 12 league games.
The early exchanges saw Swan Dive playing some neat football with some good wing play seeing a fast low cross whipped in but the fast bounce made the ball evade the on coming strikers and Grendon were able to clear the danger.
Grendon had a strong appeal for a penalty waved away by the referee as the ball appeared to strike the falling Sam Fenwick on the arm but as he was off balance, falling to the ground, there was nothing he could have done to avoid it.
15 minutes in and Grendon are awarded a free kick 20 yards outside the box. David Tonks stepped up to whip on over hit cross into the box which non of the attacking players could make contact with but it didn’t matter as the ball sailed past everyone and into the top corner to give Grendon the lead.

Grendon are now in ascendancy with their tails up but from their corner, Bryn Cove was able to lead a Swan Dive counter attack as he ran from his own penalty area, picking the ball up midway inside his own half to charge into Grendon’s half, he takes the ball past a defender to crate a 4 on 1 attack with his ball into the box being met by a shot that went just over.

Swan Dive were enjoying some good spells through the middle and when hit with Grendon counter attacks, Jack Dawson at centre back was on top form making the crucial challenges to break them down. Grendon are defending really well leading up to half time with the defenders blocking out 3 Bryn Cove efforts.
Half time - Swan Dive 0-1 Grendon.
The second half starts with Swan Dive enjoying more possession in the central areas but the Grendon defence seemed to be on top of any attacks.

Veteran midfielder Mark Bradbury was starting to take control in the middle of the park and some good link up play between him and Declan McAulay was cleared by Grendon. Bradbury then unleashes a 30 yard rocket which cannons off the bar thanks to a cracking finger tip save from Kyle Aucott in the Grendon goal, quickly followed up by Aucott making a great save with his legs to keep Swan Dive out.

Some good hold up play from Grendon sees them able to break into the Swan Dive box and with the defenders slow to react, Jack Field is brought to ground leaving the referee with no hesitation this time in pointing to the spot. David Tonks steps up to smash the penalty down the middle past the diving goal keeper to double Grendon’s lead and his tally for the day.

Grendon have the chance to make it 3 when a free kick is sent deep into the box and met with a powerful header but it goes just over. Swan Dive try hard to get a goal back but the crosses into the box are all dealt with well by Grendon.
The final 5 minutes see Grendon expertly slow things down and look after the ball to see the game out and pick up a 2-0 win.

It was definitely a day for the defenders as Jack Dawson took the man of the match for Swan Dive and Jack Barrett for Grendon. Both with excellent defensive displays for their team.

A good spirited game from both teams and they do it all again next week as they meet again at Bramcote, this time in the Tribune Cup.