After a long summer consisting of terrible England performances, Bexley Athletic is back in competitive action. Season 5 and still going strong, many familiar faces from seasons 1 and 2 returned with Ryan and Rob new additions to the squad. Ollie had also returned after being banished to Norwich to improve his game. In other news, Arsenal’s annual deadline day panic buy was Danny Welbeck, and Charlton have won more games than Man Utd this season.
Pete and Mark were notable absentees for opening day. Matty B was on holiday and Kev still had a hurty foot so Bexley had to make adjustments as the new formation was thrown out for this game. Barney played out of position in left midfield, and Rich found himself at the wrong end of the pitch partnering captain and co-manager for the day Elton. This game would earn the first slot on match of the day.
Whitefoot were an unknown enemy as the league moved to 13 teams. They were a good side, fast in attack, slick pacing and dazzling movement. They set about peppering the Bexley go and it would be a long first period for the away side who could barely get out of their half or hold onto the ball. Continously allowing the high ball to bounce was not helping the Bexley cause. Whitefoot were first to almost every ball and a succession of blocks and saves kept the score at 1-0, not to mention Rich’s multiple charge down effort on the far post. It only seemed a matter of time when Whitefoot rattled the crossbar.
It wasn’t through good play Whitefoot would score; instead an uncharacteristic Steve Bird error as he missed timed his header giving the forward and easy header. Whitefoot would shortly hit the bar for a second time as they kept the pressure on and Bexley continued the sloppy play. But unbelievably with half time approaching Bexley could have been level. On a rare excursion into the final third, Elton squared the ball to Barney who unfortunately couldn’t find the target.
Whitefoot were unfazed and fashioned a second goal out of pretty much nothing. Throw in found a player on the edge of the 18 yard box was not closed down and the consequence was the ball finding the top corner. Bexley heads were down and a few minutes later it was 3-0 as a ball from the left was centred and James found himself second best as Whitefoot scored a tap in. Bexley were staring down the barrel and desperately needed half time; but suddenly out of seemingly nowhere they got a goal back. Elton fed Ollie down the right who closed in on goal and finished precisely into the bottom corner.
Half time and the inquest begun. Other co-manager Kev made his team talk. More Avram Grant than Jose Mourinho but it had the desired effect. A new plan to cut out the erros and deal with Whitefoot’s attacking to get back into the contest. It had an immediate impact as Bexley reduced the deficit. Elton and Ollie again combined and it was the latter who found Barney the leather it home and redeem himself for the earlier miss. Bexley still had to be wary of the Whitefoot threat us the away side upped the tempo, and put pressure on their opponents. The deserved equaliser came with a third Ollie and Elton combination leading to Ryan finding the net to score on his competitive debut.
Having done so well to claw back a 2 goal deficit, Bexley took their foot of the pedal and were punished as again down the left the ball was crossed and finished well into the roof of the net. Heads didn’t drop this time as Bexley had a new found belief they could fight back. But luck was being rode as Dan made a crucial save after a shot deflected off Rob. This would prove to be a crucial moment as it wouldn’t be long before Bexley equalised for a second time. Substitute Rob fed Elton in down the flank and from a seemingly impossible position volleyed the ball across the keeper into the far corner for a goal of the season contender on opening day.
This game could now go either way as both teams were going for the win. Whitefoot had gradually been losing their discipline throughout the game as Bexley exposed their defensive weaknesses. They had upped their physicality to no effect as Bexley looked to take advantage of an array of set pieces. More chances came and went for both sides and some heroic defending kept Bexley in with a shout. With 10 minutes to go, an unlikely winning goal scorer would step up. The flank was the outlet again, Elton found Barney who scuffed a shot under the keeper and seemed to take an age to cross the line.
The Bexley bus was parked firmly in front of goal and Whitefoot through everything to salvage something from the game. Everyone made up for any errors in the first half in these final moments. Incredible tackles from James, and later Rob with the striker about to slot into an empty net summed up the effort. Calm and intelligent play throughout the team took the sting out of the Whitefoot attacks, Dan cleared out the crosses where possible and made one last save late from point blank range to conclude a very busy morning. Then, very late on Bexley their breathe, the teams on the pitch behind held their breathe along with the bar staff and the residents of the flats across the park; the ball was 3 yards out and Lee was hurtling in like an out of control HGV. He got the ball over the bar, Bexley held on, and Whitefoot stormed off wondering how they lost.
A game of two halves. A character building game. A first half to be ashamed of, but a comeback to be proud of.
Bexley have more goals in one game than Man Utd have since the start of the season
