Man of the Match- Adam Guildford
Goal of the Match- Laurence’s take down, composure, and clinical finish
Save of the Match- Near post save at the end by Dan
Moment of the Match- Dan’s crucial clangers. Barthez or Gomes, take your pick
Caravans for changing rooms, and having to squeeze through a hole in the fence to get to the pitch. Crofton Albion, cigarettes in hand, awaited Bexley Athletic. Impossible, this game was not having beaten superior opposition in the previous round. Steve joined Adam in midfield, James Brown at right back with Dan and Elton given another chance to find the goals up front.
Match start and disaster. Ball into the box looked to be easily gathered by Dan, but the ball squirmed through giving the easiest opportunity for the player to score past the players on the line. Bexley got going again but couldn’t get their game going, seemingly intimidated by the opposition. One goal became two when the attackers had the easiest of opportunities to stroll through the out of position defence to find the bottom corner with Dan taking too long to get down.
It could have been worse. Tom reacted well to get the ball off the line when the little left midfielder took the ball round half the team to almost fine the near post but for Prott to clear to safety. Bexley were facing an up hill task for a second time in a row. They had the opportunities to be level at half time but between Dan and Elton, they could not find the crucial conversion, nor was delivery at set pieces putting the rest of the team in a threatening position.
For pure persistence, Bexley got a goal back. James Hall getting the ball into the danger area for Elton to find the net.
The most likely time to concede a goal is when you have just scored yourself. These occurred. Kev failed to deal with a lobbed ball letting in the player to lob over Dan. From bad to worse. Not only, a combination of rushed play and poor finishing meant Bexley didn’t look like getting back into the game. Half time was needed to review their tactics. Simply more passing, more confidence, and win the second half 2-0 or 3-0.
This was enforced immediately. All of a sudden, James Brown, Mark, Tom and James Hall were in the game. James was overlapping well whilst Tom was finding the midfield which was now under the control of Adam and Steve. A fizzed ball across the box and almost flicked in by Dan for an immediate response.
Laurence would then be introduced to the competition. Without working the Crofton keeping, Bexley’s fluid passing was stretching the opposition. It was clear the underdogs deserved to be on level terms.
James Brown and Adam would take steps towards this. A determined run by the right back bulldozing through the Crofton defence to feed Adam, who lobbed the goalkeeper in somewhat strange fashion. 3-2 Game on!
The game was now finely in the balance. Crofton’s counter attack was threatening, especially with the back four struggling with high balls and not communicating as well as previous weeks. Several opportunities to put the game to bed were squandered by poor finishing and greediness particular by the little winger. Up the other end, Adam had the keeper scrambling who was fortunate not to have an embarrassment of his own as the ball went under his body and out for a corner.
Crofton’s missed opportunities looked costly. James Hall hit a deep cross and was taking down well by Laurence who dummied the defender to shoot left footed into the corner. Bexley, more specifically Dan looked off the hook. With Crofton’s nicotine addiction meaning they were clearly tiring, extra time would favour the away side.
Bad to worse earlier in the game turned into worse to catastrophe. Having not looked competent since the first minute Dan would cost his team the cup tie. Speculative shot hit from distance looked to be innocently floating into the keeper’s hands for it to agonisingly squirm through and into the goal.
Bexley battled on gallantly. Ironically this was probably the best passing 45 minutes of the season. Elton hit the bar with a volley, and a goal mouth scramble wouldn’t fall Bexley’s way. A near post save from Dan would do little to repair the damage already done. A blatant penalty for a foul on Laurence in the box was turned down, the striker paying the price for his honesty in staying on his feet.
Semi final next week. Doesn’t need reminding this lot beat us 4-2 last time and are performing better than us in the league. Pay back time. Next week will be better.
