Moorsiders Loose Out At St Johns

The First Team travelled to York St John's hoping to continue their recent run of good form. However a 3G pitch and extremely strong wind didn't help the task as they went down 5-2. The home side took the lead after only five minutes; a cross in from the left was powerfully headed home by Adam Burdett. The Moorsiders had the strong wind at their backs, but took a while to settle down on the unfamiliar surface and the lively St John's were closing them down at every opportunity. Kirkby finally found an equaliser on the half hour, as Sarjo Cham picked the ball up on the edge of the centre circle and unleashed a shot, which caught the wind, flew over keeper Matthew Thompson and found the back of the net via the underside of the crossbar. Five minutes later Cham was fouled on the left wing to earn a free kick, which Chris Rhodes then hit superbly through the crowded penalty area to find the corner of the net, edging the Moorsiders in front. Half time came and the Kirkby management felt that they should perhaps have made more of the wind advantage than a solitary one goal advantage. This certainly proved to be the case, as the game slipped away from them in a 12-minute spell mid way through the second half. The equalising goal came on 60 minutes as a long throw in from the left reached the front post, where Dave Gardner could only help it into the Kirkby net. Three minutes later Josh Fairmen shot from some thirty five yards out to find the bottom corner via a wicked deflection, to edge St John's ahead. A fourth goal came on 70 minutes; a ball in behind the Kirkby defence was picked up by Sam Ogilby, who hit a low shot to beat keeper Shaun Dowson at his near post. The final goal two minutes later was yet another long range effort as a James Moffat strike found the top corner from some 30 yards out. After the game Chris Rhodes was awarded Man of the Match for his tireless efforts in mid field.