Malory Eagles kick-started their challenge for silverware with a 3-1 win over Division One newcomers Middlesbrough College at Ernest Bevin College in Tooting on Saturday.
Missing outside attacker Yassir Sliti and middle blocker Dan Westphal, Jefferson Williams decided to exercise some of the less-established players.
After a spirited warm-up, setter Ashley Trodden and his opposite James Cooper started the game along with outside attackers Luciano Pinter and Marc Richardson and middle blockers Mark Brown and veteran Andrew Omoshebi.
Steven Fee, still recovering from injury, again took the spot as libero (defensive specialist).
Through set one, the teams traded points evenly with thumping outside attacks from Richardson and Pinter finding the plucky Middlesbrough defence.
Neither side could establish a lead until a spell of strong serving from Cooper helped edge the Eagles to 20 points.
Middlesbrough’s late substitution of Harrison for McLaren failed to arrest Malory’s progress and the Eagles stayed strong to close the set; 25-21.
Coach Williams kept the same six for set two and was encouraged when his team notched up the first five points without answer from Middlesbrough.
Malory maintained a comfortable buffer as the set progressed but a run of four points spearheaded by excellent defensive work brought Middlesbrough back into the set.
A double substitution, replacing Cooper and Trodden with Richard Dobell and Dave King, failed to re-start Malory’s stalled progress.
As the visitors drew even at 23, a time out from Williams could not upset Middlesbrough’s momentum and they pushed on to win the set; 27-25.
A frustrated Williams reminded his squad of the importance of this game for their league challenge with some stern words at the changeover.
He kept faith with the game’s starting six who began steadily; keen to keep control of the newly confident Middlesbrough team.
Malory gradually edged ahead, with Williams cleverly using substitutions to exploit weaknesses in the Middlesbrough team.
Attacker Darius Setsoafia and Setter Dobell joined the fray at 8-9 down in a substitution aimed at maximising attacking options.
Malory’s 6ft 6in middle blocker Alex Bialokoz later entered court, replacing a tiring Omoshebi. In spite of spirited defensive work from the Middlesbrough libero Ross Enfield, Malory turned around a slight deficit to comfortably take the set by 25-17.
After claiming the first points of set four, Malory maintained an edge over the dogged Middlesbrough side and established a convincing lead at 18-9.
The northerners refused to give up and dragged themselves back into the set with a six point serving run from setter Kieran Sowden.
A timeout from Williams at 23-19 helped the Eagles regain their composure, allowing them to resist Middlesbrough’s challenge and take the set 25-23.
Malory stay third in the league, two points behind leaders Sheffield but with a game in hand.
Eagles visit second-placed London neighbours Docklands this Saturday.
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