Man of the Match- Kevin Davis
Goal of the Match- Kev’s back flicked goal late on in the game
Save of the Match- Dan’s save late on keeping the come back hopes alive
Moment of the Match- James Brown somehow managing not to vomit
Bexley Athletic prepared for the new campaign with a good performance despite going down 3-2 to last season’s Division 3 champions Maroon XI. In intense heat, a new look squad performed well in their one and only pre season friendly.
Olly and Josh both made their debuts, with Callum a rolling sub. James Brown was hanging like a donkey. The game got off to a slow start with both teams trying to implement passing football. Maroon XI boasted much of the attacking talent from last season which Bexley contained well. With Laurie and James controlling the midfield, Bexley fashioned their first opportunity when a corner from Mark was headed just over by Matt. Olly then went on a nuts run from left back very nearly playing in Laurence for a shot on goal.
Up the other end, there was very little for Bexley to be concerned with, despite Lee’s best efforts of compounding a poor back pass by randomly getting in the way of his keeper’s clearance then kicking the ball out his hands. In less outrageous fashion, Lee as beaten for pace by a Maroon attacker but Kev intervened to prevent the player tapping into an empty net. Taking into account a little bit of luck as Maroon missed some free headers, the back four contained pretty much dominated their opponents in the first half.
Bexley began to overlap their full backs with James, Mark, Olly, Josh and Calum combining well giving Matt and Laurence opportunities to test the keeper which were saved comfortably. After being the better team for much of the first half James Hall almost gave Bexley a deserved lead with a spectacular long range effort rattling the cross bar.
Bexley continued to assert themselves in the opening part of the second half. Olly attempted another run from left back and Matt unfortunately missed a golden opportunity from a header. The striker can put the miss down to old age. Maroon then began to press Bexley more, and should have took the lead after Dan saved one Vs one and the follow up shot hit the bar and clearly crossed the line but wasn’t given by Pete or the referee. Echoes of Frank Lampard, Bloemfontein 2010.
Maroon eventually took the lead in fortunate circumstances. An attack down the Bexley left resulted in a lucky deflection of Laurie wrong footing Dan and a lucky own goal.
Bexley’s confidence appeared to evaporate like Arsenals title trophy hopes when Van Persie left. The good play of the previous hour was forgotten. This proved dangerous against a decent team like Maroon. 1-0 became 2-0 as Olly was dispossessed giving the attacker the easy task of finding the net Maroon scored their third with the keeper desperately out of position conceding sloppily at his near post.
The difference between the two teams appeared to be the final ball and being clinical in front of goal. Step up two brothers. Calum made inroads down the left, centred the ball well to set up a simple tap in for James. 3-1.
It was almost cancelled out as Bexley were opened up at the back but Dan got two hands to the shot to turn it round the post. Bexley then reduced the deficit to one with a scrappy goal as Calums shot was saved by the goalkeeper and followed up by Laurie’s header for Kev (inspired by Thierry Henry) to back heal in. The referees whistle then curbed any thoughts of a come back. Despite this, Bexley will be happy with their performance and respectable score line against superior opposition, and the three debutants can be satisfied with their contribution.
