“Boggy” was the word of the day, in conditions and performance as Bexley only just managed to take three points of winless Advent Royals. A rather lacklustre performance from the home side, a complete contrast to the reverse fixture when Bexley saw off the team propping up the table convincingly.
Pete was forced to rotate with MJ away and Laurie injured Matt and James Hall filled the bacon in midfield with Laurence playing just off Elton up front. Josh was handed a rare start with the returning Calum on the bench.
On paper this looked to be a straight forward three points for the home side. However football is not played on paper, it is played on a poorly maintained pitch. Indeed it would by Advent Royals who would take control of the game after Bexley had an early opportunity with Elton’s lay off to Laurence on the edge of the box, narrowly off target. Bexley and Advent Royals would only produce half chances, but the away side were completely dominant in possession. Dan’s shoddy kicking throughout the game would not help the situation.
Amongst the frustrations Advent Royals were proving to be a rather unsporting team, constantly putting the referee under pressure for every decision alongside providing a dishonest linesman and not to mention a simulation trade marked to Mark Baulsom Ltd when through one vs one. The referees lack of mobility did not assist him in the slightest. Complaining at Calum’s positioning on side line at a corner was just another example of their petulance.
Advent’s keeper showed impressive confidence and skill by mugging off Elton and James twice in one game, and showed his A game to tip Elton’s ferocious strike over the bar in the first half, Bexley’s one real effort on goal in the first half. Either side of this, Advent Royals were enjoying comfortable periods of possession under little or no pressure. To a neutral, Bexley looked like the team bottom of the league, and Advent Royals challenging for promotion. The away side should have produced more goal scoring opportunities for all their possession, and fluffed a golden opportunity when they worked the ball through the defence but only finding Dan in goal.
Bexley were grateful for half time, having been completely out played by their opponents for 45 minutes. A injury hit Kev had been moved to midfield, and Pete would then make a decision that sent shockwaves through the team. Laurence would have to take the walk of shame back to midfield as Kev was inexplicably put up front. The second half begun with a short burst of commitment from Bexley but then the status quo was resumed and Advent Royals could smell their first win of the season; as their confidence improved in front of goal although they could not find the target. Bexley were starting to play balls into their attacker players in the final third, but few were finding the intended target.
Midway through the second half changes were made. Josh’s very credible performance was ended and Calum was bought on at left midfield, with Mark switching to the right. It took 70 minutes but Bexley then realised they were in a contest and started to press as a team. Slowly, they begun to get a grip, and were frequently one pass short of fashioning a decent opportunity, most notably when Calum was free in the middle but Elton’s pass was blocked by the defender.
Very much against the run of play, Bexley took the lead. A crazy goal mouth scramble with the keeper initially saving well at close range from Elton, then James and Laurence bundled in before Calum managed to get the ball to Matt B. Perhaps embarrassed that he had to play at centre back whilst Kev waddled around up front earlier in the game, Matty took a touch then drilled the ball into the top corner to rescue his team.
The game was not over, and Bexley had 15 minutes to see out if they were to seal this snatch and grab. The goal seemed to give the home side some motivation, and Advent Royals suddenly had a battle on their hands. The score could have gone further in Bexley’s favour when a pass managed to find Calum in front of goal, but unfortunately the Dimitar Berbatov fan could not emulate his hero as the ball got stuck under his feet. Advent Royals pushed for a late equaliser but were thwarted by some committed defending, and Elton then had two opportunities late on, one a soft header, and another he could not connect with after Matty’s cross come shot.
A bit of a let off for Bexley who will again be grateful to their back four for a near faultless performance. James Brown, Kev, Matty B, Steve, and Rob soaked up continuous pressure today with minimal errors; and as on previous occasions provided a major contribution to Bexley winning the game. With this being the ominous game in hand, Bexley now sit third, 2 points behind Valley Park Rangers having played a game more, and 3 behind top of the table Barca with a game in hand on the Catalans.
We visit one Girant Jones next week, motivation in itself.
