BA’s second game in as many weeks saw them play host to high flying Tokyngton Manor. Not much was know about today’s opponents other than an undefeated league campaigned backed up with some high scoring games.
Darren and Kingy had a strong team to choose from even with the missing Andy Trigwell, Andy Garlick and Richard Logan. The team to face Tokyngton lined up as follows.... Jezz Mooney(GK), Gavin Long (RB), Mick Howes (CB), Stu Trigwell (CB), Dean Collett (LB), Tim Mooney (RM), Paul King (CM), Lee Bishop (CM), Phil White (LM), Robbie Blood (AMC), Tyler Gibson (FW). Paul Pidoux and Ian Crane spplying the options from the bench.
BA won the toss and decided to attack the first half downhill and against the wind. The game started with an early BA attack when Phil slid a through ball to Tyler who took a touch past the Tokyngton centre back and released a shot, the Tokyngton keeper cold only parry the shot back to the centre forward who’s follow up was closed down by the big centre back, to BA’s surprise a goal kick was awarded.
Tokyngton immediately reacted with an attack of their own on 8 minutes when good play down the left saw their striker through on goal, a neat touch around the on rushing Jezz left a simple finish, 1-0 Tokyngton. BA's response to going 1 down could not have been better, from kick off a few short passes saw Kingy lay the ball to Tyler at the centre circle, Tyler turned with the ball and attacked the Tokyngton back line, after avoiding a few challenges the CF found himself in the box with a wall of defenders ahead of him, Tyler managed to find the supporting Tim who slotted under the keeper with a neat finish to level the game.
After a busy and entertaining 10 min the game settled with Tokyngton dominating play as BA struggled to clear their lines due to strong winds playing havoc. Tokyngton seemed to camp out in the BA half and on 30 minutes they were rewarded with a second goal. A break down the left led to a deep cross to the back stick where a rising Tokyngton forward headed back across goal 2-1. Two soon became three when 8 minutes later Tokygton’s left winger again found himself breaking down the wing, a short ball was passed square to Tokyngtons striker who took a neat touch and placed the ball across goal into the far corner.
Momentum was with the away team and after 42 minutes they had all but killed the game off with a Fourth goal, This time the right winger got in on the action travelling down the flank before releasing a through ball to their Centre Midfielder who took a touch past Jezz before passing the ball into the empty net, A replica of Tokyngton’s first goal.
With half time fast approaching BA managed to carve out the last attack of the half when good battling from Tim on the edge of the box resulted in a pass back to Tyler who whipped a first time ball into the box. Robbie Blood managed to get the better of the defender but saw his header clear the bar.
Half Time BA 1 – 4 Tokyngton Manor
The Half time team talk focussed on the positives and the fact that we had put up a good fight in the first 15 minutes; at 4-1 down we knew it would take a lot to get back into the game, but as a team we needed to make it harder for the visitors and try apply some pressure.
The second half started with BA again putting some good passes together, creating space and applying pressure on the Tokygton back 4. They were awarded a free kick on 50 minutes when Kingy was fouled 30 yards to goal, Tyler took the free kick with a well struck shot, unfortunately this was hit too central and the Tokyngton number 1 tipped over. The resulting corner found Mick who had lost his marker but was unable to generate enough direction on the header with the keeper collecting the loose ball. All hope of a BA comeback were ended 5 minutes later when an attack down the right luckily fell to Tokyngton’s CF in the BA box who fired home with a well placed shot. Tokyngton once again turned the screw and fired themselves into a 5 goal lead with a replica goal to that of their 3rd. Tokyngton’s right back burst down the channel and squared a ball to their number 10 who controlled spun and struck a low shot across the goal and into the bottom.
BA made changes with Kingy being replaced by Ian Crane and Robbie Blood coming off for Paul Pidoux.
The game continued with Tokyngton controlling the play and BA creating half chances. They were almost rewarded on 75 minutes when a corner from Phil was meet by the head of Bish but fell the wrong side of the right hand post. Tokyngton finished the rout with a seventh goal on 80 minutes when their Right back travelled down the wing before cutting into the penalty box and setting up the number 10 for an easy placed shot past Jezz and into the far corner. BA’s final chance of the game fell on 80 minutes when a big goal kick from Jezz beat the Tokyngton back four with Tyler latching onto the ball, after a couple of touches the BA centre forward took his shot but placed it just wide of the post. Tokyngton were then given a chance to make it 8 when Tim was adjudged to foul the Tokyngton right back in the box despite it being more of a coming together. Tokyngton’s goal machine striker stepped up confidently but saw his poorly hit penalty saved by Jezz.
The remaining 10 minutes failed to produce many clear chances and the referee brought the game to a conclusion after the Tokygton right back blazed over an effort from 12yards.
