| Team | CoB Men’s 1stXI |
| Opponent | Old Halesonians 2 |
| Date | March 22, 2025 |
| Result | Loss |
| Score | 0 – 2 |
With the end of the season rapidly approaching, this was a game that CoB could have done with winning to enhance their chances of avoiding the dreaded drop!!
With the fact being that this was the team in 4th place playing the team in 11th place. It was never going to be easy. However, CoB made a bright enough opening – so did the visitors who stormed into the lead after just a couple of minutes. Old Hales seemed to be lively and well organised making the home defence work hard. CoB were establishing their own forward advances at every opportunity. They forced a short corner but the shot on goal was deflected over the bar. Old Hales enjoyed a period of positive possession, including a good chance of extending their lead but the effort went wide. Skipper, Zach was working hard defensively as well as prompting forward movement. Anthony went very close to getting a stick on the end of a good pass into the D. Zach too went close with another good effort. Both teams were working hard and enjoying positive attacking chances. Neal was being kept busy with several good saves to keep the visitors at bay. Jeevan had a great effort on goal just on half- time.
So, with no further score at the break, CoB were still well into this game.
The second half saw Old Hales enjoying the better of the early play, but CoB were still working hard, but relying a lot on many solo runs forward which did not lead to telling -efforts on goal. One short corner attempt was unfortunately cleared off the line . Kyle too had a great chance come to nothing. Neal was still being called upon to make several good clearances and generally the CoB defence holding its own until, late on, a rare defensive lapse let in the visitors to grab the game clincher. CoB kept at their game but could not make any real headway and so a narrow defeat, albeit against a well-organised side, still does not relieve the pressure at the bottom. Still all is not mathematically certain, two games left to salvage their status at this level.
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