A very wet, muddy and cold pitch at Woodlands Walk was passed fit to play and Prime went with just 3 recognised defenders in the squad and 5 central midfielders.

Manager Sykes was once again forced to play in goal, with no other options available and The Numbers lined up in a 3-5-2 formation with Taylor and Henshall as wingbacks and Excell, making his return after 3 months out, Abu and Westcott making a 3 man midfield.

The pitch was a mud bath through the centre with the ball regularly sticking in the mud throughout the game and it was no surprise that Woodlands exploited the wings creating a number of chances with Prime not adapting well to the formation. Buckland, in an unusal role of right centre back of the 3 was winning tackles and challenges, and made a crucial block when the ball went beyond Sykes, Buckland cleared the numbers lines.

Woodlands created the better of the chances with their midfielder hitting the post from distance, but Sykes had it well covered. This should have been a warning for Prime about closing down the Woodlands players quickly. Chances were few and far between during the game but Woodlands again went close from a corner when the Woodlands midfielder again found space and his flick on was palmed away by the Prime goalkeeper.

After some sustained pressure from The Numbers strikers Siekanka and Ferguson a loose corner from Taylor was collected by a Woodlands striker taken down the wing and with a 2 on 2 chance beat the advancing Goldsmith and then crossed, where it was stuck in the mud and Buckland made a rare error giving the Woodlands player an easy opportunity to make it 1-0 which he took.

Prime rallied and tried to play some neat passing football, unfortunately the surface was not conducive to passing football but nonetheless after some one-twos Henshall found himself with the ball 20 yards out and curled a great effort which the Woodlands keeper dealt with by pushing around the post for a corner.

Woodlands then went up the other end and in a moment of hot headedness Sykes came out towards the advancing striker and wiped him out in the box giving Woodlands a penalty which was despatched to make it 2-0.

The final piece of play in the 1st half came when the referee gave a second penalty to Woodlands with Goldsmith adjudged to have climbed over the striker. Fortunately the Woodlands player blasted his penalty over the bar, making amends for the poor decision from the referee.

Prime were deflated at half time and a ranting Goldsmith explained Prime needed to be more direct, the numbers reshuffled to a 4-4-2 with Taylor moving to right back, Buckland to left back and Excell onto the left wing.

Prime started with good intensity and were rewarded when Westcott bagged his first goal of the season. A classic. After some good work from Prime the ball fell to Westcott in the box who stabbed his right foot and buried it into the back of the net.

Sykes made the changes with Nowak replacing Excell on the left and Siekanka withdrawn to be replaced by Abraham, and the switch of Taylor in goal for Sykes to move to left back was made.

Prime continued to push for an equaliser and were the better team of the 2nd half. Abu made space for himself, and was unfortunate to see his effort rebound back off the bar.

Taylor was then called into action and pulled of a good save that was destined for the back of the net when the Woodlands player squirmed through tackles of Sykes, Cary and Buckland and placed it towards the top corner. Fortunately the stand in keeper was more than equal to the task.

Prime pushed forward in numbers testing the Woodlands keeper more during the final 20 minutes but despite free kicks and chances for Ferguson and Abraham, the Woodlands defence held firm and Prime were unable to find an equaliser.

The Numbers move on to next week where they play AFC Valour.