The A Team travelled to Morris Way in London Colney to face Colney Athletic for the third time this season. This time travelling with a strengthened squad as Rhett Monahan was retained from the Reserves and took up the captains’ armband alongside Callum Rusbridge and James Wisby, who were making their first starts for the A’s this season.

Rusbridge and Monahan proved to be a solid foundation for the A’s to build from after their last meeting with Colney, which saw the hosts put six past a “patched-up” defence.  Their strength in the air forced the hosts to try and play through the A’s and with Michael Turner playing in the holding midfield role, this proved to be difficult.

The majority of the opening period was played at a frantic pace but the A’s being unable to carve out any real chances other than a speculative shot from Joe Goude from around 20 yards that the keeper comfortably dealt with.

In the previous game, the Colney number 11 controlled the play and created everything they had to offer and as the game settled he was soon at the centre of all the home side’s play.

After 30 minutes the deadlock was broken as a swift move down the left and some static defending saw Colney’s number 14 break through and confidently finish past Jon Marlow in goal to give them the edge leading into the interval.

The second half picked up where the first half ended and the end to end football continued with some inspired saves from Marlow in goal, in what was arguably his best performance of the season.

The A’s were also finding their stride at the other end of the pitch and were duly rewarded when Sam Frazer-Bossom flew down the left and found the by-line before cutting a delightful ball back to the penalty spot for Sean Duignan, who continued his run of goals, by guiding a diving header into the far corner.

The visitors were soon in front as Duignan turned provider with a mazy run down the left and a low cross evaded three Town players but Jonny Poleszuk met the ball on the edge of the box and showed great composure, calmly side footing into the bottom corner leaving the goalkeeper no chance.

Colney tried to get back into the game, but a great performance by Turner in the centre of midfield, man marking the dangerous number 11, nullified all their attacking threat as they resorted to long balls.

Town then extended their lead as a well placed ball was slid through the Colney defence for Duignan to latch onto and he calmly finished as the A’s grew in confidence and started to look like the side they’ve been promising to be all season.

Shortly after, Rusbridge was replaced after his first 70 minutes in nearly 3 years by James Binks.

The final ten minutes saw James Graham replace Goude up front and the young impact player troubled the tired defence, but it was Wisby who would steal the show.

The right back, picked up a clearance on the half way line and drove forward into the opposition’s half before crashing a shot from 35 yards that flew over the keeper’s head and straight into the top left hand corner.  It will surely be a top contender for goal of the season and was a fitting end to a fantastic display from Farrant’s team.

A rescheduled match away at Herts Junior Cup Semi-Finalists Probuild has been put in by the league for the coming Saturday and will prove a tough test, but also a welcome one as confidence will be sky high.

A Team: Marlow, Wisby, Rusbridge (Binks, 70), Monahan, Berry, Poleszuk, Taubert, Turner, Frazer Bossom, Duignan, Goude (Graham, 80)