Early Southern Counties East Football League leaders Glebe extended their winning run with a hard earned victory over Punjab United in a hugely entertaining game.
They now have three wins out of three and while there is no doubt that they deserved to win, it was tough on Punjab goalkeeper Max Ovenden who made a string of incredible saves.
He had already made two saves from Sol Baugh before the hosts went ahead in the twelfth minute. Matt Parsons collected a half cleared cross and let fly from the edge of the penalty area giving Ovenden no chance.
However, within a minute, parity was restored. New signing Harry Main pulled out to the left, cut back in and fired home from fifteen yards.
Baugh had another effort blocked after good work from Jamie Philpot then Antone Douglas got on the end of a flicked on corner but could only touch it onto the post.
Paul Vines looped a header over for Punjab before Ovenden made a great save from Philpot and got up quickly to save from Ryan King.
King then beat Punjab’s offside trap but couldn’t finish. It fell to Philpot who bundled it home however, the assistant referee raised his flag late and Glebe’s celebrations were curtailed.
Two minutes after the break, Philpot forced his way through and he finished clinically to put Glebe back in front.
Vines looked for a quick response but shot wide before King looked to have increased Glebe’s lead but Stephen Ratcliff got back somehow to make a miraculous goal line clearance. Charlie Penny then came close to his first Foxes goal when coming in late on Baugh’s driven shot but he fired just over.
He then came even closer when rounding Ovenden but the Punjab goalkeeper recovered to tip his shot onto the post and out. Philpot was then thwarted by another good Ovenden save before Bradley Wilson fired over after Baugh’s shot was saved.
Midway through the second half, Punjab punished Glebe for not increasing their lead by equalising with a typical powerful Vines header
Philpot was again in the thick of it when his first time shot clipped the post on the way out before Ovenden made another remarkable save to keep out the Foxes’ star striker. The Punjab goalkeeper made a further brilliant save to thwart Baugh as Glebe continued to press.
Six minutes remained when Glebe finally breached the Punjab defence for a third time. Philpot held up play well and Baugh drove across the face of goal. Although it was just out of the reach of Penny, King stole in at the far post and finished from close range.
This time, there was no come-back from Punjab and it could have been worse for them when Sam Johnson chased a ball over the top and was brought down by Chandler Kasai. The referee decided that there was enough cover and produced a yellow card. Although Penny smashed the free kick over, it didn’t matter as the full time whistle was blown soon after.
Glebe: Ceesay, Olorunnisomo, Parsons, Wilson (Jackson 86), Orome, Douglas, Penny, Everett, Philpot, Ryan, Baugh (Johnson 87). Subs not used: Johnson, Chin, Simpon, Watson, Jackson.
Goalscorers: Parsons (12), Philpot (47), King (84)
Yellow cards: Douglas, Philpot
Red cards: None
Punjab United: Ovenden, Olundalaiye, Beattie, Campbell (Mahey 82), Ratcliff, Aramona, Kasai, Badbhagi (Gildea 46), Vines, Main (Noah 65), Johnson-Cole. Unused subs: Ashraf.
Goalscorers: Main (13), Vines (68)
Yellow cards: Aromona, Kasai
Red cards: None
Referee: Ryan Chantrill-Smith
Assistants: Stephen Gorman and Thomas Marshall
Attendance: 179