Surrey Hants Regional League

Reigate Priory 2

Trojans 2

REIGATE returned to form in a 2-2 draw against a high-flying Trojans side in the league on Saturday before earning a 7-3 win against Bank of England in the Surrey Cup on Sunday.

Priory, who have not had the best of starts to the season, will be hoping to use this form to chalk up another win against lowly Winchester on Saturday.

Skipper Matthew Bennett said: "The team are playing with a belief in themselves now, which perhaps was missing at the start of the season.

"We are lucky to have some exceptionally talented players who are now creating chance after chance for the forwards to put away and as a side we have real confidence we can beat anybody."

Against, Trojans, who had earned some good results, Reigate created a number of early chances after great work down the right from the experienced Dan Byfield.

With player-coach Simon Owen controlling the middle and the defence of Hunter, Green, Childs and Bennett snuffing out threats, Reigate looked more likely to score.

So it was against the run of play, when a ball bounced awkwardly inside the D, that Trojans scrambled a goal.

Such was the Reigate resolve they immediately created more chances, but could not convert short corners.

When Trojans converted a dubious short corner award at the other end to go 2-0 it looked like Reigate's chances in the game might be over.

Before half-time Reigate's dominance showed as James Chesterton added to his already lofty goal tally with a well taken short corner.

At half time Trojans' heads were firmly down and Reigate saw their chance.

In the second half they played with the sort of fluidity, pace and determination that has been their hallmark in recent seasons.

Green managed to show composure when it mattered most as he scored his first of the season to level it at 2-2.

The keeper thwarted chances from Short, Chesterton, Puddephat and Byfield.

In Sunday's Cup game Reigate rested key players and gave chances to some youngsters and good performing second teamers.

Reigate tore up the Bank of England defence with almost every attack. Dave Short was especially effective, running through the defence with speed and perseverance.

Bank's defence had no answer as Reigate ran in three quick goals.

Both sides were first reduced to 10 men and then nine for a series of challenges that might have seemed normal in any other game.

Both sides were afraid even to make a simple tackle for fear of the sin bin.

Reigate's superior skill and fitness told and they kept scoring even when they had a numerical disadvantage and additional goals came from Byfield, Pye, Chesterton and Lewis-Oliver.