Goals, controversy, and heart break all in ninety minutes of football at St Georges Recreational Ground. A Junior Reds vs Bexley derby game is always one to watch, and it would be Junior Reds who would ultimately get revenge for an opening day defeat by snatching the win in the closing stages. Defeat made even worse after controversial dismissal of Dan Davis and the inevitable suspension to come.
Team news was relatively unremarkable, although Kev’s failure to take his man up pills this week meant he was running the line. The game started at a high tempo with both teams looking threatening in the final third. Junior Reds were edging it forcing an early near post save from Dan. Bexley had some threatening moments but were ultimately struggling to maintain possession in the early stages.
It wouldn’t take long for the first goal. A clever attack from Junior Reds, when Steve was dispossessed in the middle of the park, the home side over loaded Bexley flooding midfielders into the box. James Brown did his best but he had no chance three versus one. Junior Reds calmly played the ball around the right back and neatly found the bottom corner.
As on occasions this season, Bexley seem to need to concede a goal before they wake up in the game. The forward led by Elton were pressing, and Junior Reds were beginning to buckle under the pressure. James Hall was also offering good width down the left, delivering balls into the danger area. After Elton went narrowly wide, Matt stepped up to add another fine strike to his grass roots CV.
Confidence sky high, Matty had the ambition for a long range half volley, this time unsuccessful as the ball went high and wide. Bexley continued the momentum and snatched the lead away from their rivals. Mark made a run down the right, drew the defender well and centred the ball to Elton who took a touch and shot across the keeper into the bottom corner. 2-1 Bexley.
The James’s were then in action at either end, Hall testing the keeper with a near post header, then heroics from James after a goal mouth scramble fell to a Junior Reds attacker a few yards out. It looked a clear goal until James got across for a heroic clearance off the line. Unfortunately, Junior Reds would equalise just before half time after winning the ball off the defence and slotting away a routine one vs one.
The game was finely balanced as the second half begun, with Bexley suspecting they would be able to use the downhill incline to their advantage. Elton had a decent chance early on when he was played through, but could not get a clean strike on the ball this time.
Suddenly, the game would change on one decision. Lee was dispossessed and the attacker was clean through on the Bexley left, a heavy first touch meant there was a 50/50 ball for Dan to contest. The attacker got to the ball first and knocked the ball towards the corner flag, shortly followed by a collision with the keeper who took absolutely none of the ball. The attacker admitted he had no control of the ball and indeed was not catching up with the ball. Jim Duff whistled and summoned the keeper over, and after taking Dan’s name and clarifying he was indeed the keeper brandished Bexley Athletics’ first ever red card to the amazement of most on the pitch. Jim was later hazy in his explanation, stating he felt it was a wreckless challenge and denied a goal scoring opportunity, with Pete doing his best to explain the challenge was far from cynical.
The referee’s decision stood and James was forced to take over in goal. With Junior Reds earlier losing a player to injury, it was now 10 vs 10. The game went from being very open to a tight midfield battle. The defence protected James well but the stand in was forced to a make a few crucial interventions. Fresh legs were introduced with Kev coming on for James Brown and later Calum came on for Laurence. Laurie was moved up front with Bexley trying to use his frame as a target man, but Bexley looked tired as a team and it was looking increasingly likely that a point would be the maximum Bexley could achieve from this game.
However, a hammer blow with three minutes remaining. A hopeful ball chipped into the box was not defended and it fell kindly for Junior Reds who scored from 10 yards. The game was won, Bexley were beaten on a bad day for the promotion chasers.
