Uhlsport Hellenic Div 1 West

Hook Norton 2

Purton 1

FOR the second week in a row Purton went down 2-1 and dropped to fifth in the table after defeat at Hook Norton on Saturday, writes Alan Eastwood.

The outcome, however, could have been so different had Purton converted a spot kick after just 18 minutes when skipper Marcus Hall

slipped as he took his penalty and the keeper was able to save.

Purton made a good start and Tom Swindall skipped through on ten minutes only to be stopped by a last-gasp tackle.

He and Johnny Coole then both went close to netting but the visitors went in at the break a goal down when 'Hookey' netted on 35 minutes. Five minutes later, Purton lost centre back Nick McCrae with an injury which did little to help their

cause.

The first 20 minutes of the second half saw Purton pick up their game but good approach play yielded nothing and once again they were hampered by not having a recognised striker.

The home side then increased their lead after 68 minutes.

A good effort by Johnny Coole went close to pulling Purton back in the game and a brilliant goal from the same player did just that in the 82nd minute.

It was a goal worthy of winning any game but on this occasion that was not to be.