There was excitement in the air with the second visit in as many weeks from our friends from the Kent County league. Back on our own current home ground with a far superior playing surface we all knew it would be a very different affair this time around. With no Bish or Pat, Hamish McBeth was recalled to the starting XI and there were returns to the bench for Hugo Van Basten and crowd favourites Robbie G and Gozzy AKA Slug & Lettuce.
With a bumper crowd at the field of dreams and Stuart Nowell sporting a lovely new hat the scene was set for another B&A cup classic. Malgo however forgot to read the script and turned up to poop the party.
After a fairly quiet start (certainly a lot lower key than last week) it was Malgo who took the lead. A slip from the Ginger prince allowed the Malgo forward to run clear and slot the ball past Hairy Dan in the sticks. Chances were at premium at both ends and for a supposedly ‘better’ side the chaps from West Malling were resorting to petulant fouling and long ball in a bid to outmuscle the home side. Keeping faith in the 4-5-1 formation Bert was putting himself about in the middle but there was not much joy for Hobbit and Luke in the channels and when Luke did get the ball his opponent at full back proved a tough nut to crack. (until Hugo came along and sat on him but we’ll come to that later) 2Gun was also putting in some hard yards and not really getting the service he deserved in the final third.
Early in the second half another long ball from the yellow army and a lack of communication at the back let the chirpy little Malgo number 9 in, Dan came off his line well and got a hand to it but it wasn’t quite enough as the Malgo lad followed up and managed to squeeze it home. At this point Hugo Van Basten replaced 2Gun up top and we reverted to a 4-4-2 with Luke joining him. He immediately went to work putting himself about and putting his foot in. Thom and Ferg were struggling for midfield domination but still at times were playing the better football than their counterparts.
The third goal came as a hammer blow. A throw in deep in the Blackham half (a foul throw I might add but ho hum) straight in to the path of his team mate who brushed off the challenge and smashed home from a tight angle. A goal that shouldn’t have stood but still a sloppy one to concede and effectively one that ended the contest even though the score line did flatter them some. With the brave boys in Black and red pushing forward it was shit or bust time, whether it was 3-0 or 6-0 it didn’t matter at this stage. Slug and Lettuce were introduced in to the fray with Slug going up to make a three man attack and Gozzy slotting in on the left for Captain Frodo. We started creating chances, Gandhi had a header straight at the keeper, Lettuce laid one on for the slug but his neat turn and shot was well smothered by the Malgo ManBoy keeper. And then the inevitable happened and they snatched a 4th on the break. It was a nice goal, good team move and smart finish, shame it was by that lanky streak of piss with the big feet.
There was time for a late consolation, a free kick on the edge of the box and Bert managed to expertly curl the ball over the keepers head and in to the far corner. And Hamish definitely did not foul the centre back!
4-1 flattered them and they knew it, but they were the better side on the day and deserved their win. But again we did not disgrace ourselves against tough opposition.
The day was completed with a few birthday drinks for Bert, with special mention to Mrs Slug being the first ever WAG to do a dirty, Baby Slug AKA Bobby for being the clubs youngest ever ShowerBoy and christening Hobbit in the shower and finally to Thumbelina for making everyone’s night by wetting himself and falling asleep in P&P.
Back to league action next week and hopefully back to winning ways
