The third game of the New Year saw BA play another home game with this week’s opponents, third place FC Yiewsley. BA went into the game on a poor run of form with their last win coming against Larkspur Rovers back in October followed up by some heavy defeats and a run of 5 losses on the bounce.
Again Darren and Kingy had a strong team despite the absence of Tim Mooney, Stu Trigwell and Richard Logan; they did welcome back the return of Andy Trigwell and Josh Taylor. The team lined up as follows, Andy Trigwell (GK), Dean Collett (RB), Mick Howes (CB), Gavin Long (CB), Josh Taylor (LB), Lee Bishop (RM), Robbie Blood (CM), Andy Garlick (CM), Phil White (LM),Paul King (CF), Tyler Gibson (CF) with Paul Pidoux the lone substitute.
BA won the toss and Mick decided to attack downhill with the wind in our favour. In recent weeks BA have been involved in very open games, but this week saw both teams start off conservatively with neither team getting a hold of the game. BA had the first half chance of the game on 30 minutes when a goal kick was headed up in the air from Yiewsley’s centre back, Tyler managed to nip in and from a wide angle saw his shot saved comfortably by the goalkeeper. It seemed the game had finally kicked into gear and if it wasn’t for an alert Mick Howes BA would have seen themselves 1-0 down. BA had been attacking when a clearance cleared the back 4, Andy Trigwell came off his line to clear but was caught out when the Yiewsley centre forward managed to knock the ball goal ward, thankfully Mick had read the threat and timed his tackle to perfection to prevent the Yiewsley centre forward having an empty net to slide the ball into.
BA seemed equal to Yiewsley’s attacks with Gavin and Mick winning their aerial battles making it very difficult for Yiewsley to create any space, at the other end BA were guilty of misplacing paces and poor control and like their opponents they too failed to create anything.
Tyler had a cross come shot saved well by Yiewlsey’s goalkeeper, Deano found the striker out wide right, after a couple of touches the ball was slung into the box and looked to be finding the far corner but the Yiewsley goalkeeper saved very well before a Yiewsley defender managed to clear.
The ref blew his whistle bringing an end to a very poor first half.
Half Time BA 0 – 0 FC Yiewsley
The team talk was to keep defending well and start making better use of the ball when we were attacking; everyone was working hard and the feeling that BA could get something out of the game.
The second half got under way with BA restarting and looking to make more use of the ball, however with only 2 minutes gone of the second half Yiewsley took the lead. The ref had judged that Mick had fouled Yiewsley’s centre forward 30 yards out despite it being a very soft free kick. BA’s midfielder clipped a deep ball into the box where the left winger managed to head back across goal into the path of the Yiewsley forward who headed into the back of the net. The first time BA had failed to win their headers and they found themselves 1-0 down.
The game had now come to life and again the BA back 4 found themselves defending with Yiewsley using the wings well and starting to turn the screw. A ball was played through to Yiesley’s centre forward who turned and shot but Andy was equal to the shot. More attacks came and went with BA holding strong and clearing their lines.
Yiewsley’s dominance was soon over and BA found themselves with rare control of the game, their passes started to stick and the team had raised their game an extra 10%. Deano and Tyler linked up well again down the right hand side and with a mirrored image of the first half chance when a cross deep looked to be creeping in until the Yiewsley shot stopper tipped the ball out of play. Bish and Deano had a good one two with Bish getting a good cross into the box before Yiewsley’s centre back cleared.
Another BA chance was created on 65 minutes when Tyler managed to control a loose ball in the centre of the park before turning and attacking the Yiewsley back 4, avoiding a couple of chances Tyler found a Bish on the wing, Lee centred a deep cross that found Phil unmarked at the back post, Phil took the ball down well but saw his shot blocked before being cleared.
From the clearance Yiewsley took their chance to start a counter attack down the right, a ball was clipped low into the box and confusion between Gavin and Trig led to Yiewsley’s forward with what would appear to be an easy tap, just when you though 2-0 Trig scrambled across the goal and threw himself at the feet of the forward producing a great save.
After 70 minutes BA created their best chance of the game when Phil slid a through ball down the line to Tyler who avoided a lunging tackle from Yiewsley’s centre back, Tyler collected the ball and cut in filed and into the 18 yard box before hitting a weak shot which was easily gathered up by Yiewsley’s goalkeeper.
Play died down again after some really entertaining football and Yeiwsley began to hold the ball well without really creating any chances. The BA back 4 were playing well forcing Yiewsley to take shots from distance all of which were seen wide or over by Trig. On 80 minutes Yiewsley’s left winger must have thought he had won the game, a corner from the right was cleared but only to the edge of the box, the left winger controlled a shot well that was destined for the top corner but Trig was equal to the shot flying through the air and tipping the ball round the post.
BA decided to make a change with Paul Pidoux replacing Phil White, Josh moved to left wing and paul slotted in at left back.
Football is all about taking your chances and at 1-0 Yiewsley will rue the chances that they missed throughout the second half, after 85 minutes BA had the ball on the left hand side of the pitch, short passes and attempted crosses were snuffed out by a resilient Yiewsley defence, a cross from Paul Pidoux was only cleared as far as Deano who controlled the ball a slotted a through ball into the path of Tyler, the striker took a touch into the box before looking up and chipping a cross to the back post, The cross found Bish who muscled himself into a great position and powered a header into the back of the net.
With only 5 minutes remaining BA looked to have stolen a point, Yiewlsey tried their hardest to seal a winner late on but again were restricted to shooting from distance. They were awarded a string of corners as they plugged away but the BA back line were equal to everything and managed to clear their lines. The referee had seen enough and after Yiewsley’s 4th corner was cleared brought the game to an end.
A good point which brings BA’s losing streak of 6 consecutive games to an end, with the team showing character at the turn of the year it will only be a matter of time before they record a win.
