Saffron Dynamo 4
Cottesmore Amateurs 2
AN appalling start cost Cottesmore the chance of picking up another Leicestershire Senior League Premier Division point, but only just.
With joint-managers John Morton and Steve Duffy unavailable, defender Nick Buff stood in as player-boss.
Playing into the wind Buff started with a 4-5-1 formation in a bid to frustrate the hosts, with a plan to go on the attack in the second half.
Unfortunately none of Amateurs defenders seemed to understand the plan as the visitors were 3-0 down by the break.
A fourth goal was conceded five minutes into the second half and it looked as though Saffron would have a field day.
But the introduction of Rob Lewin changed the game and Amateurs came storming back.
Jim Foreman, pictured, finished neatly to make it 4-1 and then fired over the keeper from 20-yards to bring it back to 4-2.
Marcus Baines hit the sweetest of sweet volleys from a corner to the back post but somehow the keeper got in the way before Lewin lobbed the keeper only to see a defender head the ball against the bar and post.
Buff said: "By the end they were all arguing and time wasting and we really had them rattled.
"Rob was superb and had Marcus's volley gone in then I think we'd have nicked a draw. It was one of those strikes – if he'd scuffed it then it would have gone in, but he caught it so well and the keeper was in the way.
"If we started as we finished we would have won."
Amateurs: Lucas, Bain, Buff, Quinn, Whyley (Lewin), Bates, Bomken, Baines, Moore, Duncan, Foreman.

Cottesmore Res 5
Highfield Res 2
COTTESMORE recorded a fine victory.
The hosts started brightly with some good passing football and Robbie Foster soon opened the scoring, finishing neatly after a fine through ball.
Highfield levelled when the unfortunate Baz Brown headed into his own net from a dangerous cross before veteran stopper Adey Stanard produced a fingertip save to prevent the visitors going ahead.
Cottesmore went ahead once more when Forster fed Rob Montgomery who finished with aplomb, but poor marking from a corner allowed Highfield to level again – an unmarked Paul Mallor heading in.
Amateurs regained the lead just before the break when Montgomery beat the offside trap.
The second half saw the hosts tighten up at the back and their hard work was rewarded when the excellent Tom Caldicott finished a mazy run with a fine strike to extend the lead.
Ben Easson sealed the win from the penalty spot.
Amateurs: Stannard, Brown, Bryan, Freer, Wilson, Giblin, Caldicott, Easson, MacDonald, Forster, Montgomery. Subs: Miller, Steel, Archer