CARDEA BACK TO WINNING WAYS

Cardea FC (4-1-3-2): Gavin Sampson; Andrew James, Michael Williams, Stuart Yaxley (c), Kynan Bereznyckyj; Aaron Yeoman; Alex Goymour, John Reddell, Shane Cooke; Luke Penman, Rob Ames. Subs: Owen Uglow, Dom Goymour.

Manager Craig Robinson delivered a warning before the game that performances had not been good enough for the last couple of games but that did not stop Cardea from conceding an early Netherton goal.

However the response from Cardea was everything the manager could have asked for. The away team pressed Netherton every time they were in possession and forced a defensive error for Reddell to play in Ames who continued his good run of scoring finding the bottom corner.

Cardea had a good chance to take the lead in the 20th minute with a free kick just outside the area but Yeoman's kick shanked well wide of the goal.

The midfielder made up for the effort just minutes later as Cardea robbed the possession high up the pitch and Yeoman struck a low effort in from 20 yards.

Netherton always looked dangerous in the attack and Sampson pulled off a great low save to deny them an equaliser.

Just after the half hour mark and Cardea increased their lead. Yeoman played the ball to Cooke who found last season's form as he jinked past defenders and unleashed an unstoppable effort past the keeper for 3-1 to Cardea.

After half time it was all Netherton as they searched for a way back into the game. The Cardea defence held strong with Bereznyckyj and James bring their good form for the Reserves up to the first team.

Wave after wave of red Netherton attack was repelled by Cardea with Sampson pulling off some amazing saves the few times the attacker got past Williams and Yaxley.

Midway through the second half Netherton did pull a goal back as Cardea looked to pass the ball out of defence but were punished with a clinical finish.

Sampson made further great saves to preserve the Cardea lead including a very good reaction save one on one.

Cardea were having some chances on the counter attack but it was very much a defensive half epitomised by the effort of Penman constantly chasing back to help the defenders until his legs gave up on him late on.

In the last minute Cardea should have made sure of the win, Ames showed great skill to get into the area and produced a Rabona pass into Uglow who was 6 yards out with just the keeper to beat but he took a touch and shot straight at the keeper and the ball looped over the bar for a corner.

The miss did not matter as Cardea held on to win 3-2 and move up to second in the table.

After the match manager Craig Robinson said: "The boys responded well to pre match words and certain home truths has given a few that much needed kick up the butt. Good performance from the start to the finish. We looked dangerous going forward and defended well especially the 2nd half.

"Gav made some good saves in the first half to allow us to be 3-1 at half time and if Owen could score from 2 yards it would have been the icing on the cake.

"Tied vote from you for MOTM so I'm having the decisive vote and it's goes to Luke Penman. Closing down and tracking back was superb and he looked dangerous going forward.

"Bring this performance with u again next week please."

Kev Webster added: "It was good to see the passion back, you all played for each other and looked like the team of last season and the one against Limetree. Need to carry this on. Don't want to dwell on this too much but how did Owen miss that goal? See you next week lads."

Next up for Cardea is a home game against Baston at Bushfield.