RADSTOCK TOWN 2 CHEDDAR 1

It took a lot of hard work during the morning to get the pitch playable after the heavy rain of the last few days, and those efforts were rewarded with all three points from the game against a side expected to be challenging for the Championship once again this season.

The first half was a very cagey affair, with neither side really opening up and both looking to make sure they did not concede goals or ground. Although flowing play was lacking from either side’s game, they each forced successive corners in turn, but with the defences looking solid and the keepers dealing with everything they didn’t clear, it was no surprise when the half-time whistle blew with the game goalless.

The second half started in the same manner as the first ended, but all that changed on the hour when Robbi Maggs’ half-hit shot took a wicked deflection off a defender and looped over the despairing dive of Jack Scrivens in the Radstock goal to drop into the net.

The goal served as the catalyst though to a complete change in the home side’s performance as they opened the game up in search of the equaliser, and that duly arrived in the seventieth minute, when Rustell smashed home a precision cross from Rico Sobers.

The visitors’ goal was then laid siege to by the home side, and at one point they forced six successive corners, but couldn’t find that final touch until the eightieth minute when, from yet another corner, Rustell forced the ball home much to the annoyance of the visitors, who were claiming a foul – hand-ball; in fact, anything to try and get the referee to rule the goal out!

It was then Cheddar’s turn to look for an equaliser, and following a corner which was only half-cleared, Ricky Bennett saw his goal-bound, 25-yard effort brilliantly turned away by Scrivens.

After that scare, though, Radstock managed the last few minutes well, and the forwards’ composure and ball retention ensured there was no more danger to deal with and the points were secure.

Dave Wilkinson