Dominant Phoenix earn brilliant win on the road.
Phoenix secured a vital victory on the road against Herne Bay on Saturday, with defender Jake Goodman heading home a brace to earn the points on a dominant day for Darren Anslow’s men.
Anslow made three changes to his side that lost to Littlehampton a week earlier, with Will Grieveson, Bradley Pritchard, and Richard Pingling coming in for Jack Turner, Kiye Martin, and Marcus Elliott as the Sports returned to a 4-3-3 formation.
The visitors started brightly, with the impressive Tyler Anderson causing early problems down the right flank. In the 13th minute, Anderson broke down the right, beat his man, and pulled back for Pingling. The Phoenix number nine had time to take a touch but leaned back and was unable to keep his effort down, firing just over the bar from eight yards out.
Herne Bay responded with a chance of their own in the 27th minute, as Jordy Ndozid tested Sam Freeman from range. The Phoenix keeper reacted superbly to tip the powerful strike over the bar, keeping the scores level.
Phoenix were starting to control the game and almost took the lead when Ahkeem Belford latched onto a brilliant diagonal ball from Grieveson and chipped Harley Earle in the Bay goal. With Belford already celebrating, Liam Friend did brilliantly to get back and nod the goal-bound effort off the line.
From the resulting corner, the pressure paid off when Jake Goodman powered home a header from an inch-perfect Perri Iandolo corner, giving the away side a deserved lead in the 31st minute.
Moments later, Phoenix had a strong penalty appeal waved away after Pritchard went down in the box, but the referee waved away his protests.
It should’ve been 2-0 going into the break when Iandolo caught Herne Bay playing out from the back just before half-time and drove into the area. The 22-year-old midfielder poked a shot at goal, but Earle was equal to it and parried it away, meaning Phoenix went into the break with a single-goal advantage.
The Greens carried their momentum into the second half, immediately forcing a flurry of corners. Tyler Anderson continued to cause havoc, setting up Henry Griffin in the 54th minute, but the full-back sliced his shot wide.
The visitors were given a golden opportunity to extend their lead in the 58th minute when Ahkeem Belford was clipped inside the box, and the referee this time pointed straight to the spot. Richard Pingling grabbed the ball, stepped up to take the penalty but saw his effort crash against the underside of the bar and bounce clear.
Inevitably, the miss gave Herne Bay a lift, and the Blues made Phoenix rue their missed chances, finding an equaliser in the 68th minute. Michael Salako capitalised on a rebound from a corner, slotting home to bring the hosts level.
Rather than capitulate, Phoenix rallied, with the experienced heads of Pritchard and Goodman leading the charge.
Four minutes later, they were back in front. Once again, it was Goodman who came up with the goods, heading in at the back post from a Henry Griffin corner to make it 2-1 and send the away fans into raptures.
Pritchard almost put the game beyond doubt in the 74th minute with a well-struck half-volley that flew just wide.
Anslow’s men managed the final stages well as the clock ticked down. Freeman made a couple of crucial late claims to relieve pressure in the dying moments before the referee blew the final whistle.
The victory marks a massive three points for Phoenix Sports, who move up to 19th in the table and now sit just three points behind Littlehampton Town. Merstham are the visitors for Phoenix on Saturday, 1 March, as they look to climb to safety.
Phoenix: Freeman, Belford, Goodman, Grieveson, Griffin, Pritchard, Morgan-Griffiths, Iandolo, Brissett (Efambe 63), Anderson, Pingling (Elliott (90+1)
Subs not used: Clarke, Quintyne,
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