With Dan van de Laan O’Donnell missing, Clint Falcus started at centre back, whilst Jamie Ryall partnered Dave Griffiths in the centre of midfield.

The first half was short of chances for either side.  Wanderers produced some flowing football, with the ball being passed accurately throughout the midfield.  BMW favoured a more direct style, but the Blues back four remained resolute during the opening period.  Mark Timms inspired confidence, as he successfully claimed crosses to take the pressure off of the defence.

Despite picking up an early booking, Phil Soane competed well, and was ideally placed to clear the danger following BMW’s most dangerous attack.  As the ball bobbled around the box and away from Timms, Soane dived in to deny the BMW forward a clear shot at the open goal.

The Blues’ forwards were denied by the linesman’s flag on several occasions in the opening forty five minutes.  Wanderers only managed one effort on goal, through Anthony Prior’s weak free kick towards the end of the half.

The second half followed the same pattern as the first, as Wanderers struggled to create chances.  With much of the play confined to the middle of the pitch, Ryall and Dave Griffiths had a greater influence on the game, and frequently linked up well with both wingers.  In attack, Tom Soane and Paul Martin tried to make the most of the limited service, but were frustrated by dogged defending and further offside calls.

Andy Corless and then Edward Townsend came on, in place of Falcus and Phil Soane respectively.  The new look back four continued to win headers, as BMW hit their only effort on goal over the bar.

With time running out, it appeared that the game would end goalless.  There were just two minutes left when Martin was hacked down on the Blues’ left, just outside the box.  Prior’s free-kicked narrowly missed Martin’s head, but Chris Hillsdon scrambled the ball across goal and Martin bundled over the line from close range.

This performance was all about hard work, and although there were moments of quality, it was the Blues’ desire to press on that saw them come away with the three points.

TEAM: Mark Timms, Chris Orbell, Chris Hillsdon, Clint Falcus, Phil Soane, Ian Griffiths, Dave Griffiths, Jamie Ryall, Anthony Prior, Paul Martin, Tom Soane.

SUBS:  Andy Corless (for Falcus) and Edward Townsend (for P Soane).