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The Supporters View
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Edgware continue their title race with a convincing win against league strugglers St Margaretsbury on a bright winter afternoon, taking their tally to 19 league games unbeaten. They could have scored a hatful more if they had converted the many chances they had. However, the pitch was hard and uneven, which was not condusive to playing football.
Although going a goal down to a penalty conceded in the first few minutes of the game Edgware struck back with less than 10 minutes on the clock, a well worked corner between Gavin Hart and Richard Morton, Stuart Blackburne heading home his first goal since the beginning of the year.
A couple of minutes later Adam Wallace went clear on goal only to be brought down by 'Burys' keeper Jamie Groves but this time referee Mr Turner was unmoved by the Ware's appeals and gave a goal kick. Then Edgware were nearly caught out, a cross into the area by Jack Night found Stuart Cunningham unmarked on the back stick, but he headed wide on 15 minutes.
Steve Brady was causing havoc with his speed on the right wing and when he forced a corner just before the half hour, Hart again floated the ball into the area, Morton rose above the defenders to head the ball, but was inches wide. With 10 minutes left of the first half a long ball forward by Junior Lewis set Stuart Blackburne on his way to strike at goal, Groves did well to keep him out, scrabbling a save off the floor.
Edgware were pressing hard, Hart had a shot pushed out with Paul Marks follow up blocked by a defender when it looked set for the top corner. Then with only minutes left to the half time whistle Lewis took a quick free kick, flicked on by Richard Morton, Wallace was on hand to slot home to go a goal ahead. More was to follow, and in time added on a spectacular goal, the ball was passed in to Wallace but he stepped over and back heeled the ball in to Blackburne sprinting forward, the lissom forward took the ball in his stride and thundered it into the back of the net, with Groves only a spectator to the event.
Early in the second half Blackburne turned his ankle when forcing another attack on the home goal and Ben Cain came on in his place. The lanky forward was quickly into the action when Marks set him up, but his angled shot was into the side netting. The home side had few opportunities but it was evident that any complacency would be punished, Matt Maskell was allowed through to test Rob Blackburne who was equally up to the task, then Tony Smith shot straight at the Wares keeper with 70 minutes gone.
Edgware seemed wary of shooting at goal when given the chance, Cain had an ideal opportunity but decided to pass across the goalmouth instead. However, he made amends just before 85 minutes when he collected a pass forward from Lewis and beat Groves to give Edgware a three goal lead.
Edgware substituted Wallace for Paul Killick and Marks for Ross Christie but the Wares had not finished yet. Winning another corner, Hart took it short to Lewis, Lewis to Morton on the edge, Morton back to Lewis who's rasping angled shot whizzed past the stranded Groves to make it 5.
The travelling Wares spectators had seen two goal that would not have been out of place as 'Goal of the Month' in the professional game.
Edgware: R Blackburne, Brady, Lewis, Smith, Buchanan, Ferneé, Marks (Christe), Morton, S Blackburne (Cain), Wallace (Killick), Hart
Other Subs: Gardner, Stopps
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