HUTTON Cranswick United couldn't build upon a positive start after going ahead via skipper Darren Parker on seven minutes, because tardy defending – three goals coming from corners – again led to their downfall against Phoenix S&S at Pavilion Lan
e.
Team manager Ollie Ezard recalled Wesley Owusu with Luke D Taylor, Joe Kidd and Danny Ransom injured but the side showed only glimpses of recently improving form with midfielder Mark Frampton and defender Dan Taylor perhaps the pick of the bunch.
On a sunny but chilly afternoon United kicked off attacking the valley end and after a couple of early sorties went in front as a neat move involving Luke Taylor and skipper Darren Parker saw the latter fire in a low shot from 22 yards that slithered under the body of keeper Arron Chapman into the net.
A bright start but within five minutes United were behind as the defensive frailties that have plagued them of late were there for all to see, lively striker Matt Ellis took advantage of poor marking at two successive corners to put his side ahead.
United tried to regroup and Frampton put in some really good work in the middle aiding Parker, grafting to push his side up field but most of United's forward momentum fizzled out around the area
Right on half time came a hammer blow as Phoenix scored a third, after United had made the home defence anxious for the first time, sweeping quickly from defence, a neat three man move ending with a low cross in to the box, knocked home from 10 yards by James Kettringham past keeper Leon Sewell.
The visitors understandably looked deflated as the second half started and on the hour defender Stevie Spence (harshly booked for a foul on Luke Taylor earlier) nodded in a corner to seal the points for his side that climb to second spot with this win.
United simply could not get any real rhythm to their play but things perked up a bit when Wesley Owusu came on and he was involved in a couple of decent breaks and following a good move on the right flank striker Andy Martin's shot was pushed around the post for a corner and defender Dan Taylor headed just over from a free kick.
In fact United knocked the ball about with quite a lot of purpose in the last 20 minutes but earlier failings were clearly far too much to catch up on.
United squad: Leon Sewell, Dean Walton (Tom Chippendale 68), Andy Etherington, Dan Taylor, Paul Taylor, Mark Frampton, Tim Taylor, Darren Parker (c), Andy Martin (Mike Morris 79), Rich Gibson, (Wesley Owusu 60) Luke Taylor.
Scorer: Darren Parke (7)
Phoenix S&S: Arron Chapman, Jamie Cantrill, Ryan Moorcroft, Liam O'Brien (c), Stevie Spence, Chris Lund, Liam Colclough, Dave Parry, Matt Ellis, Simon Cuckson, James Kettringham. Subs Andy Athey, Tom Colclough, Arron Cross.
Scorers: Ellis (9, 12). Kettringham (45), Spence (62).
Booked: Spence 25.
