After last week confidence in the camp was low and as has become the norm this year we had another team cobbled together last minute. Merv made his first start of the season and Gent Jim and Hathaway returned to the starting line up. Reports suggest Hathaway set fire to his Villa season ticket after the previous weeks embarrassment at Stamford Bridge. All this on a week we were up against a Kent County league side from Maidstone. The changing room was quiet before the game and everyone was expecting the worst.
After a decent warm up and some encouraging words from the skipper the game started and as expected we were under pressure from the start. We defended deep but effectively, The Gent was winning everything in the air and Junior and Bowlsey were sweeping up nicely behind. We started creat some chances. Latts dropped in to the hole behind Gozzy to be a link man and create almost a midfield five. This proved effective and with the help of Bert and Hathaway we looked good when the ball was played to feet.
The opening goal was soft, a quick Malgo counter attack was finished with a low shot from distance and just crept into the bottom corner. They doubled their lead not long after, a careless back pass put their centre forward clean through, the Big Brown Bear made a great last ditch save but the ball fell to the feet of the Malgo man who then took a horrific dive in the box, something that To Daley would’ve been proud of but it was enough to fool the ref who pointed to the spot. Axel was booked for his over excited appeal and Malgo dispatched the pen. 0-2.
We nearly pulled one back before the break, Merv was released down the right flank and pulled the trigger from almost 30 yards, it sailed past the keep and smashed the underside of the crossbar and bounced on the line. Gozzy was also starting to get some joy against their clumsy centre back but the referee wasn’t too keen on his style of play.
At the half we felt we were still very much in the game and with just a couple of minutes gone in the 2nd half we pulled a goal back. A good break down the right before Gozzy crossed the ball in to Axel’s path who kept his cool and slotted it home. This gave the team a big lift and we started to create more and more chances. Hathaway took one for the team, right between the eyes and had to come off, he was replaced by Badger who was out of breath after jogging over to give the ref his name. Malgo regained their two goal cushion with a sweeping move down their left flank but we again pegged them back after Latts played Gozzy in and he finished well. The scores were nearly level late on. Gozzy’s free kick was heading for the bottom left hand corner but the Malgo keeper got down well and saved.
Another defeat and with it our last chance of a trophy this season but a much better performance and lots of positives to take in to next weeks game.
