Blackham & Ashurst 2-0 Hawkenbury
Last seasons failures, the wins and the defeats in pre season all of this meant nothing today as the new season got underway with a tricky opening fixture against one of our closest rivals from last year, Hawkenbury.
As the boys from B&A took to the field the last words of guidance were given out by the gaffer, he demanded a more vocal and positive performance from everyone with a threat of a halftime circle of friendship if this didn’t happen. It obviously worked as straight from the off voices were heard from all corners of the team. Most notably from skipper Tom Bayley and midfield general Meaty Gammon.
On the whole we controlled the game and created a few good chances, Pat Lawrence as usual was covering endless amounts of grass and put some useful balls in to the box causing the Hawks all kinds of trouble.
The deadlock was eventually broken. A great run down the left flank from debutant Mark Baggesen followed by a pinpoint cross met by Gozzy in the middle who poked home for 1-0.
The rest of the half was tight, Bayley and Kenny were immense at the back winning everything in the air and on the ground and Pat ‘Zinger’ Towers was uncompromising at right back adopting the “None shall pass” mentality. Good lad Zinger.
By half time the heat was taking its toll and Rob Gardiner had to be rushed to the oxygen tent and treated by the nurses. This paved the way for the new kid on the block Mitch ‘the bitch’ Cowan. At 16 the youngest player in the B&A squad.
It was a straight swap with Mitch slotting in at right mid. Straight away he was linking up nicely with Gozzy and Pat Lawrence and had a good chance to score all but a smart save from Matt Swan in the Hawks goal.
After one or two moments of slack defending normal service was resumed and the ball was being moved around nicely. Eugene replaced Zinger at right back and did the family position proud.
Some quick thinking from Bago with a throw in released Gozzy down the left and his low cross found his life long buddy and strike partner Hobbit at the far stick to tuck away a well earned goal on his birthday. 2-0
The score could have been 4 or 5. Bago blazed over from a tight angle after some good solo work and Meat grazed the far stick from 20 yards with lovely effort late on. A great finger tip save from Player Manager Nice Guy kept it clean at the back.
All in all a great team performance and a good way to kick off the new season. The game was followed by a healthy session in the cross and cocktails at the Cuban for Hobbits birthday.
I’d also like to congratulate the Gaffer for winning the 2008 B&A annual dance off. Great moves out there Nice Guy
Next week is the big one, away against Tunbridge Wells UTD.
