Figtree 0, Maroons 1

Just as it seemed our dominance might come to nothing, John B's perfect cross allowed Fergus to head us to victory and stay in the top four on a packed table yesterday.
We turned up with a strong 16-man squad and were in control from from the start. Shakey was slipped through one on one with their keeper, who produced a fine low save and Shakey's second attempt drifted just over. On 20 minutes Jon S floated over a cross which Shakey met, but his head clashed with the Figtree keeper and he was off to hospital to have seven stitches on the gash.
I must admit watching the game through bleary eyes and a Codral haze but I can't recall a dangerous moment at the back with Dave D and Kev in control and Gary H playing strongly near the finish.
The second half began the same way and when Kev was subbed off after 15 minutes he claimed not to have needed to touch the ball during that period.
Apparently in the 2-0 home loss to Figtree were outplayed in midfield but it was the opposite yesterday. Paul E was hard in the tackle while the two Jo(h)ns ran the show with the ball.
Paul almost put us ahead when he curled a fine shot from outside the box over the keeper and onto the bar. The ball came out, hit the goalie and slid just wide for a corner.
Dave C sent out four perfect corners in a row as we ramped up the pressure. Frustration grew when Jon S's shot from outside the box took the angle of post and crossbar.
We were having success when spreading the ball wide and this is how we finally got ahead. Jon S, picked out John B unmarked on the right. He took the ball into the box and had the time to look up and pick out Fergus's run - the delivery was perfect.
Figtree's playmaker started to come forward more but they still created very little. The ref found some five minutes of injury time at the end, but the final whistle came as a relief.
Table leaders Old Boys were thumped 3-0 by Balgownie while Russell Vale beat a 10 man Whites 5-1 to join them on 41 points. Bally moved third on goal difference ahead of the Maroons on 38 with Mako's on 36.