Goal of the Match- Rob has to take it because it was sort of from long range and found the top corner
Save of the Match- Mean Machine keeper made a quality reaction save from someone down low with two strong wrists
Moment of the Match- The entire second half turning into a training exercise
Dewar Shield time, every team involved from Premier to Division 3. Bexley overcame an underdogs challenge by more than a whisker, making mince meat of Mean Machines at Charlton Park. A comfortable win for the away side setting up a far greater challenge in the next round with Sabanoh 97 who are currently fifteen places higher in the Premier Division.
Team news was remarkable. Bexley to bare 11, Louis made is debut, Josh filled in at right back, Mark and Kev returned from Disney Land playing left midfield and centre back. Devastating news pre match in that Elton would be out long term. After sprinting two weeks ago, his ankle went into shock and the damage was unavoidable. Would Bexley cope without their star striker, time will tell over the next few weeks.
The pitch was poor, Greenwich council must do better. Later dog faeces would compound the grounds man’s poor contribution. From the off it was clear Mean Machine were in a learning process. Their passing was poor giving Bexley the upper hand. Bexley had so many chances in the game which unfortunately they all cannot be described here. It would be Matt who made the early break through, making up for rolling out of bed with just under an hour before kick off. A long ball from the goalkeeper would be pounced on by Matt who finished at the second attempt beat the Mean Machine number one.
Controversy would follow. Like Mark Halsey would be Man Utd’s twelfth man, Jim Duff will surely be on the scout list for Mean Machine as he adjudged MJ’s handle to be inside the box. The penalty was promptly converted, and this would rattle Bexley slightly. With a strong head wind, Bexley were continually misjudging defensive headers, sending the Excuse Generator into overdrive. Kev inexplicably putting his foot on a ball preventing Dan from picking it up rather summed up some of the decision making. Rob then had to be smart to clear after and an inaccurate punch from the keeper.
Amongst the circus, Bexley were creating chances. Louis practically travelled from the halfway line only to be denied by the keeper. Matt skewed narrowly wide, and James and Calum had various efforts. Calum ensured Bexley took a lead into half time combining with James, the pair setting a trend of assisting each other’s goals this season. After refusing to pay his match fee, James cut the ball back to Calum at the by line for Calum to slot home like his hero Berbatov does so easily for that smaller west London team.
Second half was one sided. Bexley scoring no less than seven goals. Mean Machine’s Machine was not so mean as Bexley cut through them like a hot knife through butter. James as on scene to bag a second half hat trick, with some fine poaching work picking up scraps from the keeper. Mark with a rare assist, Matty B also with a hand in two. To compound their misery, Mean Machine would experience technical difficulties with their striker limping off relegating them to ten men. Every attack Bexley looked like scoring, Louis had another effort saved at the near post by the goalkeeper, who put in a respectable performance and prevented further embarrassment for his team. Lee could have scored a goal, but was unfortunately born with a 50p for a head so couldn’t hit the target.
Other moments to report on are Josh’s attempt on target for Mean Machine spooned away by Dan, Lee as standard playing in an opponent, and the drama of the ball retrieval with Josh the lead character. Moreover, a rather random goal mouth scramble involving goalkeeper, bar, post, Calum’s boot and defensive clearance was one of many occasions where Bexley were unlucky to add to their total.
Goal six, quite a good one. Mr Purcell from Dartford enjoying his morning out in Charlton had earlier been denied, but showed the required grit and determination to throttle the ball into the top corner. The left back almost made it two, but not this time with the volley. MJ would add a seventh in another team worked move splitting the Mean Machine; capping another man of the match display, proving you can successfully go to the Wrongun the night before and spend most of the game in the centre circle with a bad back. Calum would return the favour for James setting up the final goal of the game and securing the number nine four goals.
A rather pointless encounter against a fair weaker team, but job done none the less. A fair greater test awaits next weak against Orpington Park who we met two seasons ago, a very well organised outfit.
