Man of the Match- James Brown
Goal of the Match- Goal one, defence splitting pass, precise cross, bullet header, very good goal
Save of the Match- Dan sprung to his near post to deflect a close range header
Moment of the Match- James Brown running over the ladder in the car park
The Wanted once said “how do you get up from an all time low?” Play a team from the league above? Unconventional but appears to have worked. A thin squad for the Plumstead Challenge Cup game, Steve played in centre midfield with Adam, Matt and Elton partnered up front, Kev moved back to centre back with messes Brown and Hall right and left back.
The team had been leaking goals like a burst water main in recent weeks, and not making much of an impression up the other end. Today was effectively a free game, Bexley were clear underdogs and not expected to win. Sure enough, the superior passing and movement of Lessa was clear for the capacity crowd of 4 to see, a real test of character was about to ensue. First blood to Lessa XI as they switched the play from left to right, cut into the box and found the free man at the far post to take an early lead.
To their credit, Bexley picked themselves up. James, Dan and Adam had worked so hard to put the net up which now had a hole by the crossbar, even this didn’t get them down. Despite the clear cohesion between Adam and Steve in centre midfield, scoring opportunities for Bexley were still scarce, the final ball and run letting the home side down. Dan controlled corners, throw ins and long free kicks well, and was force to block from close range before Bexley went two down. Lee and Kev failed to clear the ball effectively between them, and Lessa capitalised with a well placed bent shot into the bottom corner with Dan unsighted.
Bexley fought back. Elton broke through and forced two very good saves from the Lessa goalkeeper. He should have earned his team a penalty when the goalkeeper impeded him. Bexley should have had a second penalty with a clear hand ball, Pete was flagging like a mad man at a train station, but again the referee was disinterested. Matt also had an opportunity headed over, with Kenan ready to pounce behind him. A goal at this time with the momentum fully with Bexley may have rattled the opposition. Dan was strong to win a 50/50 ball with the defender and later had to save at the near post; whilst promptly dropping the resulting corner with the sun in his eyes. No harm done, half time 2-0.
Re-group, Bexley were in the game and giving a far superior team something to think about. Bexley were stronger in the opening part of the second half, Elton forced another save from the Goalkeeper who was handling like Fabianski in the second half. Adam’s moment came, but he hit the ball high and wide. Lessa got back to grips with the game and the back four dealt well with the majority of attacks with competence, and Dan produced a Petr Cech reaction save down at the near post.
However, individual errors proved fatal at the back. A ball down the Bexley right caused mayhem. James followed orders and left the ball for Dan, this time his burning pace let him down. The troops were back blocking the goal to allow the keeper to get back. The shot did come, it was going wide but Kev jumped and palmed it away. Penalty given, the most obvious red card you will ever see was yellow. At the second attempt, the penalty was dispatched and rather killed the Bexley fight back. Steve’s left foot shot the last attempt on goal for home side.
Lessa wound down the clock, and got gifted an undeserved fourth from a mis-kicked free kick from Dan. Late on, Adam performed heroics at a corner to clear the ball of the line. 5-0 would have been very harsh.
Significant improvement on last week even though the result doesn’t show it. If it were a team from the same league surely would have been a Bexley win. Although he thought we played better, the manager was not happy with the lack of battling and the wrong attitude of some players, he feels some can’t be bothered. See you at training Tuesday!
