BBOB's second game of the season was another cup game against Worthing league team Adur Athletic. BBOB were struggling for a team and had no recognisable subs apart from club secretary Dick Horseman. Despite this apparent predicament BBOB battled out a good win in a closely fought match!
Adur Athletic started the game lively and put BBOB under early pressure, with some long range efforts, centre-back Paul Barton thought he had conceded an own goal in the 20th minute when he redirected a cross past keeper Craig Watson, luckily the ball rolled along the face of the goal and was eventual cleared down field. The BBOB defence included player-manager Steve Maskell playing in an unfamiliar role at right back and Sam Hamberger at centre –back had a strong performance throughout.
BBOB attacked well at times but their passing game was not as fluent as it was in the previous week's game, very few chances were created by either team, BBOB's best chance came late in the first half when Matt Barton headed a cross to the far post wide. Half time 0-0.
The second half started with Adur Athletic on the attack and stayed that way for about 15 minutes, Adur had a spell of corners and long throws but the BBOB defence was equal to them, Craig Watson made some fine saves from a couple of long range efforts. Once again the BBOB keeper commanded his box well and seemed to easily deal with the pressure. In the 65th minute Adur made a double substitution when two lively midfielders entered the play, they changed their formation and put three players in midfield placing further pressure on the BBOB defence and midfield.
In the 67th minute and slightly against the run of play BBOB took the lead, a ball from midfield found striker Matt Barton one on one with the opposition keeper, his shot was parried by the keeper only for Ben Wheatland to finish from close range, his second goal in two games!
Following this, Adur's fresher legs and eagerness to equalise caused BBOB a few problems; they failed to convert a one on one and again had some long range efforts. Midfielder Chris Thomas constantly denied the Adur midfield with plenty of strong tackling and running throughout the second half, his midfield partner Howard Lloyd never gave up despite being outnumbered against a three man central midfield! In the 85th minute Howard Lloyd made it 2-0 to BBOB with a close range effort, after some good work by strikers Matt Barton and Ben Wheatland.
In the 91st minute Adur Athletic pulled a goal back after a good move down the left from their forward, who finished well placing his shot across the goal into the bottom right hand corner!
The referee played a further eight minutes additional time but BBOB held out well, Matt Barton put the Adur defence under further pressure with a good run down the left which nearly found him on goal; it took three Adur defenders to see him off! All in all a very well fought game, of which the eleven BBOB players certainly can say they deserved to win!
Match reporter Paul Barton
