Date: Saturday 24th October
Venue: Warlingham Sports Club
Starting line-up: Gaz Stewart, Greg Tett, Ralph Wensley, Jimmy Ingle, Jonny Patterson, Marcus Torr, Elliot Connolly, Ian Clarke, Tom Simmons, Oli Perkins, Harry Tulip
Sub: Ben McGeown
Cubo continued their recent good form with Oli Perkins and Harry Tulip both bagging braces to secure a first ever win at Warlingham.
A re-jigged line-up saw Jimmy Ingle’s recent good form for the 2’s recognised with a place in the centre of the defence next to the returning Ralph Wensley, Elliot Connolly returned to the centre of the park.
Cubo were forced onto the back foot in the early stages as the Warlingham midfield took charge and were finding plenty of space to bring their wingers into the game where on more than one occasion better delivery into the box would have caused Cubo all sorts of problems.
However the Cubans were able to ride this early storm and with the midfield getting to grips with their opponents they took they took the lead midway through the half. Harry Tulip picked the ball up on the left hand side before skinning the Warlingham full-back and pulling the ball back post where Oli Perkins had the simple task of tapping the ball in from 2 yards out.
The Cubans were now in charge and a second goal looked likely and duly arrived just before the half. Clarkey whipped in a free kick from out on the right and Oli Perkins guided a volley past the Warlingham keeper to make it 2-0 at half-time.
Warlingham upped their game in the second half pushing men forward to create a formation that Cubo were struggling to adapt to. Coupled with Cubo consistently giving the ball away the home side were able to build pressure on the Cubo goal and only a fantastic save from Gaz Stewart, pushing a fierce shot onto the post, kept the home side at bay.
Cubo continued to look dangerous when the ball went forward and had they shown greater ruthlessness in the final third the game would have been put to bed. This wastefulness almost came back to haunt Cubo when the skilful number 8 for Warlingham broke through the middle and slipped the ball in to his striker who sent the Gaz the wrong way to set up a tense final 10 minutes.
Once again Cubo were facing a tough final period in a game that they should have had wrapped up long before. Luckily two late goals from Harry Tulip, the first a tap-in following up a shot that came back off the post before slamming home a second having picked up a loose pass from the Warlingham centre-half, secured 3 points and put a gloss on the final scoreline.
Goals: Oli Perkins (2), Harry Tulip (2)
MOTM: Harry Tulip, whilst two goals and an assist were the highlights from Cubo’s number 9 he was a continual threat to the Warlingham back line all-day, and is starting to get the goals his performances have deserved.
AFC Cubo 