Man of the Match- Lee Baulsom
Goal of the Match- Goal direct from a corner always raises a few eye brows
Save of the Match- Any of the Charlton keepers saves in a commanding performance
Moment of the Match- Well struck half volley hitting the bar from range from Charlton, deserved to go in
Bexley were in good form after four league wins from five with a giant killing in the cup amongst those results. Charlton and Eltham Casuals were having a mixed season with two wins a draw and two losses in their last five, sitting in the bottom third of the table. They had conceded thirteen goals in this run of games. On the face of it, the home side were favourites.
The wind would play a part in this game. Lee won the toss and sensibly opted to play into the wind in the first half. The opening exchanges were very tight, Charlton perhaps shading it with their environmental advantage. Indeed, the Charlton keeper would not be forced into a worthwhile save in the first half.
Bexley were doing their best to pass the ball out from the back but they were struggling. They would soon be caught out. First Tom was forced into a magnificent recovering tackle within his own six yard box, then from a long throw a Charlton player was inexplicably left unmarked but fortunately miss kicked the volley. The midfield quartet were doing well helping out their back four, but were struggling to get the ball to their strikers. Bexley’s opportunities were off target, Mark with the best one a few yards out but got under the ball and hit it over.
It wasn’t long before Bexley were breathing another sigh of relief. Tom caught out this time at a throw let the player in down the left who produced a well struck shot against the bar. Resistance was futile as via the same channel Charlton got their deserved goal finishing in the far corner. Despite their good form, this situation doesn’t favour Bexley. On the six occasions this season where they have conceded the first goal, Bexley have lost no less than four times.
Whether it was the weather, the pitch, or psychological, Bexley had no impetus in the final third. Shades of the games earlier in the season. Goal kicks were going through Steve and Tom where possible, but James and Mark were having to come shorter and shorter to receive the ball. With frustration setting in, Bexley were becoming sloppy and not helping themselves. Charlton’s left midfielder hit a spectacular volley onto the bar, increasing the confidence of his teams. The lead was doubled shortly after. The Bexley defence, so solid all season was taken apart from the right, Charlton ploughed through and shot through the legs of the defence into the corner.
Just before half time, it would go from bad to catastrophic. England vs Macedonia 2002 a goal direct from a corner. Everyone could see it coming, no one could prevent it as the ball wickedly flew into the top corner.
Bexley were left licking their wounds a half time, having spent a lot of the time at each other’s throat in the first half. The game was far from lost, Charlton would have to endue the wind in the second half and Bexley would look to exploit this apparent weak defence. Having scored thirty six goals at home this season, this was more than possible.
The team spirit improved in the second half as Bexley tried to kick start their come back. As much as they tried, they couldn’t get the ball in the net. Chance came and chance passed as Dan, Elton, James, and Sean all couldn’t convert, as well as an array of corners going to waste. Even when a goal appeared to be awarded by referee Duff, it was reversed (but was the correct decision). The Charlton keeper also made his fair share of fine saves.
Charlton offered little on the counter attack producing only one golden opportunity to score palmed wide by Dan. Despite this, they found a fourth goal in a harsh penalty decision on Tom, the left back couldn’t have done much more to keep his arm out the way of the ball. The penalty was converted left footed beyond Dan into the top corner.
Bexley were finished, the game was over as the discipline with each other began to lapse again. The introduction of Adam and Aaron could not salvage a result for the home side. A consolation was achieved late in the game. Adam’s fine shot deserved more than finding the bar, but Dan was on the spot to salvage the rebound.
A bad day. A day when strength of character was needed to avoid an embarrassment. Winning the league is a tough task now ten points off the leaders. A top four finish should be the target, but this is not easy sitting in third with teams with games in hand. Crofton Albion or Woolwich Spartans away from home are the opponents in the Fred Jolly Cup next week. Both in Divsion 2, Woolwich Spartan’s are top and in good form, Crofton Albion are eight. Get up, dust down, train hard, fight back.
NB Just to clarify, top scorers etc have been mentioned. To view the accurate top goal scorers click: Stats>Custom Range>Start 4th September 2011 End May 2012>Update Stats
The stats that pop up on the website start in May 2011 thus including the back end of last season, and pre season.
