It was an emotional return to the Riverside Stadium for the B&A faithful and what a fixture to mark the event. Malgo, a team from the Kent County league and going well at the top of their division. They had brushed aside the mighty Hadlow Evolution 5-1 a couple of weeks previously and last time they travelled down to Sussex they despatched us from the Tunbridge Wells cup 3-2 with the score line flattering us somewhat.
And with the injuries mounting it B&A were nowhere near full strength and only had two subs for the first time this season.
We reverted back to the 4-5-1 formation that served us well at the start of the season but with Baggo and Zac in the treatment room front men Hobbit and Leppard moved out in to the wide positions with Ferg finally being restored alongside Thumbelina in centre mid in place of the injured Woggles.
The game started in frantic style and within two minutes the ref blew up for a foul on the edge of the box after what looked like a tremendous recovering tackle from the lively Luke Leppard. Funnily enough the ref failed to blow up for a similar challenge moments later that left Bowlsey in a crumpled heap and a hole in his sock from the Malgo player’s studs??? Still, that set the tone for the game and on the uncertain playing surface at the Riverside it was bound to be a physical affair as opposed to the beautiful game as we know it. This point was rammed home with painful effect on the 15 minute mark when the Malgo centre mid decided to not once but twice stamp on Thom Thumb’s back while he was on the deck. It wasn’t even subtle and the ref produced the red card. Not long after the ref’s little black book was out again, this time he was adding Big Bish’s credentials, oddly enough not to arrange to go out for a beer sometime but to caution him for slightly miss timed two footed lunge! But before long Mr Bishop was hitting the headlines for all the right reasons. After a corner was only half cleared Thumbelina picked the ball up mid way in to the Malgo half and played a delightful ball in to the 6 yard box, Bish ran across his man and flicked a header over the oncoming keeper and in to the onion bag. 1-0 B&A and four in six for the big man. But a team like Malgo don’t fall to pieces at the first (or second) sight of trouble and everyone knew one goal was never going to be enough. There were other half chances in the first half to increase the lead but the B&A boys, wearing the white shirts today couldn’t quite hit the target and test the opposition keeper. Then, five minutes before the break some slack defending on the edge of the box let the Malgo centre forward turn and pick his spot placing the ball low in to the bottom corner. 1-1 at the break and it was anyone’s game. At half time there was not a lot to be said, considering the condition of the pitch everyone was mucking in and playing well. Within minutes of the restart disaster struck, a dodgy bounce off a molehill took the ball away from Bish just inside his own penalty area and the little Malgo ankle biter was waiting in the wings and pounced on the loose ball to slot home and put them in front. There were groans from the fans and some bewildered looks from the players. Hobbit had to be substituted as he had a hair appointment at Toni and Guy’s at 3:00 and was replaced by the Ginger Pig, Pat. He nestled in at right midfield with Luke moving over to the left. His impact was immediate as went about his business with real purpose and for a man who’s spent more of his life being injured than actually playing he showed no fear going in to the tackles. And it was from one of his throw-ins that we got back on level terms. His long throw was not properly clear and Bertie Freeman was waiting for the ball to drop before lashing it home on the volley and sending the crowd wild. By this time Bish had organised the boys at the back well and Junior had got his Mojo back after a sketchy start putting in some important tackles and ariel wins. But it was that little Ginger wind up merchant that set the crowd off again when his inch perfect pass in behind the Malgo center back found the on rushing Luke who just beat the keeper to the ball and rolled it in to an empty net. We were back in front and this time there was no letting go. Thom Thumb was bossing the midfield with Ferg given the licence to bomb on and get ahead of 2Gun and Luke was running the show from the left wing, putting in tackles in the home third and still getting forward to cause havoc in the Malgo box, indeed he should have made the game safe but blazed over from the close range. Pat also had a glorious chance to kill the game off but in his words “coudln’t decide whether to control the ball or shoot so I did both”. 2Gun finally ran out of steam and was literally dragged off the pitch by new club physio Slug Gardiner and was replaced by the fans favourite Adam Harrison for his return to the Riverside. The brave boys saw out the final minutes and progress to the next round where we’ll face Southborough!!
