Old Whitgiftian AFC

Old Bromleians III 3-3 Old Whitgiftian Reserves

(Saturday, 29 September 2007)

MATCH REPORT
by Nixie

Three questions we have to ask ourselves...
1) Was this a point gained?
2) Was this two points dropped?
3) Did we get out of gaol?
Anyone reading this match report can read on and make their own judgement, but personally over the 90 minutes I would have to say question 2 would be answered with a very big yes.

A bit of a chaotic week really. We were missing two big players from last week in Dave Tryhorn and Mike Tarlton, but we were compensated by the return of Vien Phan. It was also the first game of the season for Alex Isthikhar and newbie Darren Redley, who had been introduced to the Club by Kris Kenyon and had aready impressed at training. We then had an injury scare with our captain, when Chris Stafford-Hill injured his leg cycling into work. I had also missed training for the first time and therefore missed an opportunity to chat with players about this game other than by phone and email.

A serious drinking session for me the night before (hey, I'm retired, I can) ended with me missing my last train and having to circumnavigate the midlands by slow train and taxi, finally getting home after 2.00 am. The journey in to the game the next day was a nightmare with the Victoria line messed up and packed trains with Fulham home to Chelsea... it goes on and on.

About half of the team turned up after the official meet time, but the opposition hadn't turned up either, the changing rooms were locked, no nets were up and the referee was nowhere to be seen, but it wasn't much of an issue. The guys passed the time with a game of roulette football - where you get to kick the ball really hard at each other, as a target you're not allowed to move and as the kicker you don't become a target if you hit the other guy... I still can't see how this helps with team bonding, but at least I know why we have so many injuries! When the opposition did arrive, they put one net up (theirs) and then had a kick around.

Eventually, the ref arrived, they put the other net up and Robin took the team warm-up.

I should have at this point given a Churchillian-style team talk... and I certainly would have, had I known what was just about to unfold. Instead I talked about improving on what we'd done right last week and to also increase our passing game.

1st HALF LINE-UP
HILLIER KENYON - BURNS - ISTHIKHAR (inj 25, sub DENISON J) - DENISON C (inj 23, sub FERGUSON R) MOSS - STAFFORD-HILL (Capt) - TEGG - STURDY REDLEY - FERGUSON M

I've got into the habit in recent years of recording a timeline of play in a little notebook I carry, as it makes it easier when writing a report of the game. After about 20 minutes this book went into my pocket and didn't come out again... as what was unfolding in front of me was some of the poorest football I'm ever likely to witness from one of my teams. Never have I seen a bunch of players so out of sync with each other and just unable to get going.

In less than 20 minutes we had conceded 3 goals and Broms had missed about 3 other chances on pure poor finishing. We missed tackles, misjudged the flight of the ball, didn't pick up their players, couldn't pass, couldn't talk, jumped into challenges... the list is endless.

It didn't help that Broms had two pacey forwards who loved the long ball over the top to run onto and we had very litle in the way of stopping them. The rest of the team were physical and just mescled us out of the game and we failed to compete in all areas.

"+%$@ the match report!" I thought. As already mentioned the book went away and the gob went into overdrive.

Our saving grace came after a combination of Broms believing they'd done enough and us have two player injuries, that gave us a little time to re-organise and clear our head. The first occurred shortly after their second goal, when Christian Denison (left back) twisted his knee and couldn't coninue. He was replaced by Richard Ferguson (right footed) as there was no one else available to do the job. Richard didn't complain and went on to do his best for the team.

They promptly scored a third and then we had to make our second substitution when Alex Isthikhar called time on himself. I was a bit shell-shocked now... no recognised defenders... and Broms with their tails up. I told Alex to continue as he was as I needed time to think.

I then turned and spoke with Jacob Denison and said "Jacob, I need you to go on at right back and get us through to half time." He replied, "Nixie, I haven't played right back for about 8 years." ....and as he only looks about 16, I wasn't filled with confidence. Nevertheless, he had to do it as we were up a creek, so to speak.

But it was the break we needed. Kris Kenyon (fast becoming the team's Mr Reliable) was moved into the heart of defence and Joe Burns used the opportunity get the back four together and let them know what he wanted them to do. Chris Stafford-Hill did the same... and we rallied... we were a team reborn.

To be fair... Broms were now in a comfort zone and just thought they were going to turn us over with a rugby score as they had with Reigatians the previous week. I later found out from Robin Tegg, that they also started a love-in at this point that wound him and a few others up. So this, plus our chance to reorganise, meant that at least we were going to give them a game at last.

... and the impact was almost immediate... and here I have to issue an apology as from this point on, I became so animated and involved that the fluidity of the game passed me by somewhat as I was running purely on adrenaline. However, between now and the end of the half we went on to score 2 goals and get ourselves right back into the game. The transformation was complete... suddenly we showed confidence, determination and spirit. No longer were we being muscled out of challenges, no longer were we second to the ball and no longer were we second best.

Our first goal came from another penalty - that's 3 in three weeks - and shows what defenders will resort to at this level if you drive into the box with the ball. Thistime it was Chris Stafford-Hill making the run only to be bundled over in front of the referee. Very loud appea from Old Broms, but I've no idea why as it was what you call "a bit blatant". Richard Sturdy converted it hitting the ball hard past the diving keeper's right arm.

This was followed by a very contraversially disallowed goal 5 minutes later which I'm sure we'll be talking about long into the season, when Robin Tegg "smacked" a shot on the half-volley, it hit the undersideof the crossbar, bounced over the line, hit the crossbar again... bounced over the line again, before their goalkeeper swung at it with his arm and pawed it away. We all cheered, their defence went quiet and the referee seemed to take a lifetime to make a decision... before waving play on. I'm not questioning the referee's honesty or what he saw, but it was an unbelievable decision, that I'm still not able to fathom... but what can you do except play on.

... and that is what the players did and were rewarded within minutes when Darren Redley, collected the ball outside the area and ran at goal. He beat three defenders before slotting the ball past their keeper to make it 3-2. The comeback was on.

Half time came too quickly for us as we definitely had Broms pegged back. They made the odd dangerous foray in our half, but more often than not we easily dealt with their long balls, by ensuring we made got their first.

2nd HALF LINE-UP
HILLIER DENISON J - BURNS - KENYON - FERGUSON R FERGUSON M - STAFFORD-HILL (Capt) - TEGG - STURDY REDLEY - PHAN

The half time team talk was about how we'd almost got ourselves back into the game and to keep probing without losing the discipline we'd rediscovered. Dean Moss made way for Vien Phan, with Michael Ferguson dropping to right midfield.

The equalisor soon followed with a lovely piece of build up play (perhaps someone can tell me who did what?) that was coolly side-footed in from a yard out by the predatory Vien. 3-3... lordy, lordy, the comeback was complete.

The instruction had been to get that equalisor and then see how Broms reacted to the next attack after that. They'd already started moaning at each other and the referee when the leveller had gone in. Sadly, the next 10 minutes went a bit quiet, as we seemed to struggle to believe the game was now there for the taking. It was also a case (as Joe Burns later put it) of "we'd now earned a point and we seemed a bit scared to jeopardise it." - Fair enough!

After this 10 minute spell, both teams pushed for the winner. Michael Ferguson had a shot low through a crowd, Robin Tegg interlinked with Richard Sturdy and Darren Redley on a number of occasions and also had the odd run at goal himself. He was rarely beaten in the air and was able to direct his flicks to the front line from throw-ins. Darren Redley and Chris Stafford-Hill both blazed chances over and Vien came close with a couple that he would normally have buried with his eyes shut.

Although, not reflected so much in the m-o-t-m vote, Chris Stafford-Hill covered every balde of grass and then some. He was stamped on above the knee (nice bruise Chris), which the referee blew for, but took no action against the player, and at the end of the game, his shirt was dripping wet.

At the other end, we had heroics from the defence. Richard Ferguson and Jacob Denison both became attacking wing-backs and took it in turns to bring the ball out of defence. Jacob also took a knock on his ankle, but was still able to see the game out. I'm sure Kris Kenyon would tell you he'd rather not play in he centre, but the truth is he looked very comfortable there. He marked the pacier of the two forwards and it was very much honours even at the end of the game. Joe looked a lot more comfortable with his back four and started to bring the ball down and stroke passes out to the wings and centre... and Tim pulled off two quality saves to ensure a clean sheet for the second half.

Despite a frantic finish, the game saw no further goals and the referee blew the whistle on two very tired teams.

I find it hard to believe that we could start that badly again, but it is extremely good to know that the team didn't give up and had enough heart to dig a result out when lesser teams would have folded.

I still think it was two points dropped!

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Man-of-the-Match Result

Congratulations to Darren Redley, for winning the award in his very first game for the Club. He was a constant nuisance throughout and used his electric pace and excellent ball control to torment the Bromleians defence at every opportunity. Hopefully, this is just the start of what Darren has to offer, as he learns more about the Club and the players around him. Superb debut.

Pos	Player	Ref	1st	2nd	Total
1st	DARREN REDLEY	-	9	2	20
2nd	Chris Stafford-Hill	-	2	2	8
3rd	Tim Hillier	-	2	3	7
4th	Jacob Denison	-	-	4	4
5th=	Kris Kenyon	-	-	2	2
5th=	Richard Sturdy	-	1	-	2
7th=	Joe Burns	-	-	1	1
7th=	Robin Tegg	-	-	1	1

 

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