BBOB exited the Hove & Worthing Cup with their heads held high after a strong performance against a good Worthing league team; conditions were poor with both teams battling with high winds and showers. The usual BBOB goalkeeper and ever-present Craig Watson was absent for this game and left back Ryan Satterley kindly stepped in between the sticks! The versatile Dan Buchanan started the game at left back and Jac Edwards returned to left midfield after a long absence through injury. Stuart Burgess returned to the centre of midfield.
BBOB opted to go with the wind in the first half, a tactic that may have paid off had chances been converted. BBOB had the better of the early exchanges and chances were narrowly missed by strikers Matt Barton & Jamie Eade, BBOB continued to play their passing game but were unable to find the break through. Despite strong performances from the BBOB forwards & midfielders the GSK defence were equal to them.
GSK took the lead in the 20th minute (against the run of play) after a long throw into the box caused confusion in the BBOB defence, the outstretched toe of BBOB midfielder Michael (Titch) McMahon wrong footed goalkeeper Ryan Satterley and the ball slowly crossed the BBOB goal line.
BBOB showed great character and continued to press the GSK defence, in the 27th minute they got what they deserved when the ball fell to striker Matt Barton who beat the GSK defence and under pressure from the keeper fed his fellow striker Jamie Eade in space who placed his shot into an empty net. On the stroke of half time Jac Edwards found himself in space and fired a shot against the GSK cross bar denying BBOB a deserved half time lead.
In second half BBOB were against the wind and knew that they would have to defend well to stay in the game. Unfortunately GSK took full advantage of the conditions and immediately applied pressure to the BBOB defence, a string of long throws and corners followed but it was an unusual goal that created the lead for GSK. In the 59th minute the ball fell to a GSK midfielder and his long range effort was cruelly misjudged by the goalkeeper Ryan Satterley, and bounced just beyond him and into the net. Two GSK players were in offside positions as this happened and after a discussion with the BBOB linesman the referee awarded the goal.
Again BBOB didn't give up on the game and at times superbly passed the ball around, but were unable to find an opening against a strong GSK back four and midfield. Chris Thomas replaced Michael McMahon in the 65th minute in the centre of midfield.
In the 79th minute GSK increased their lead, after a wind assisted free kick into the BBOB penalty area beat the BBOB defence and found the head of a GSK forward who made no mistake from six yards. Again BBOB refused to lie down and in true cup tie spirit kept pressing, in the 85th minute right winger Ed Wyeth moved inside and managed to beat the GSK central defender and the goalkeeper to a loose ball and scrambled the ball across the line to reduce the deficit. This set up a frantic last five minutes as BBOB pushed for the equaliser, but they were unable to breakdown the GSK defence again! Unfortunately this tactic led to the inevitable breakaway goal from GSK to seal the game.
Despite the defeat this was a promising performance from BBOB, they deserved more from the game. Hopefully in the next game (another home cup game against another West Sussex team!) it will all go BBOB's way!
Match report by Paul Barton
