By Toby Forage.

FOOTBALLING cynics with an eye on the Minerva Spartan League Division One were eating humble pie on Saturday evening after pointless Chingford won their first game since reforming.

A single goal from Roger Woods was enough to beat Long Lane and it was a goal to savour when it arrived.

A throw from keeper Maurice Phillips found Stuart Roberts and he fed the ball to Woods who cut inside from the left before unleashing a right foot pearler into the top corner of the net.

But the fact that Chingford had gone in at half-time without conceding a goal was a miracle in itself. They were under the cosh for most of the half and had it not been for some fine keeping from Phillips and a goal-line clearance from Matthew Woodman it could have all gone wrong.

To their credit, they blocked out everything that Lane could conjure up and their bravery and determination paid off.

Club spokesman Kevin Ryan said: The boys were magnificent from one to 11. I said we would win eventually and our collective belief is what got us this win.

We struggled in the first half, thats no secret, but once we had gone ahead we were all over them and could have won by more.

Lane had two players sent off following Chingfords goal, one for a second bookable offence and their keeper who hauled down Gianluca Travis as he broke through.

Holmes was forced to leave the field injured but was replaced by Ken Bennett who at 52 proved he could still cut it with the youngsters, and Chingford finished winners.

Ryan added: All the lads played well and Woods and Phillips were outstanding. That is now two weeks in a row that we have played well and to get a result like this having lost 23-1 earlier this season shows what character these boys have built up.

When they failed to score in the first half we knew our luck was in and we took full advantage of it. It was tremendous.

With three games in hand over second bottom Leyton Youth, Chingford could even scrape their way off the bottom of the table by the end of the season. They are now just four points behind their local rivals and having won on Saturday are full of confidence.

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