BBOB exited the Sussex FA (Junior) cup with a patchy performance in a game they could have won. Again changes were made to the line-up, with Stuart Burgess returning to the starting line-up, playing for the first time at centre back, Dan Buchanan replaced the absent Jac Edwards at left midfield, Jamie Eade also started up front.
BBOB started the stronger and forced the Pirates defence into action right from the start. Some good play down the right involving Paul Barton and Michael ‘Titch’ McMahon almost opened up the Pirates’ defence. Matt Barton came close to scoring just after this.
BBOB could not sustain this pressure despite having plenty of possession (the best chance falling to centre back Tom Bunting who fired over the bar from inside the area) and allowed the Pirates back into the game. Their fast counter attack football paid off after around 25 minutes when they broke on the left and the BBOB defence failed to fully clear the ball. A lucky ricochet followed and the ball fell to a Pirates attacker just inside the area and he made no mistake from twelve yards!
Nyetimber increased their lead from an unlikely source in the 40th minute, this time the ball fell to their unmarked left back some thirty yards out and his fierce bending shot somehow found the bottom right hand corner of the BBOB net. Half time 0-2.
BBOB started the second half well and continued to pass the ball around but decision making in the final third of the pitch seemed to let them down each time. The Pirates defence held up strong and was difficult to penetrate. In the 60th minute Chris Thomas was replaced with Fletcher Elliott at right midfield with Michael McMahon moving to centre midfield. Shortly after this BBOB changed to a 3-5-2 formation and centre back Stuart Burgess was replaced by forward Ben Wheatland.
In the 70th minute BBOB pulled a goal back after a good through ball from Matt Barton found midfielder Howard Lloyd in the opposition’s area, the ball bounced kindly and he was able to bury his effort just past the Pirate’s keeper. Ben Scott replaced Jamie Eade shortly after this.
In the 85th minute, as BBOB pushed forward looking for the equaliser they again were caught on the break, a long diagonal ball to a Pirate’s forward was just kept in and his cross deflected off Michael McMahon’s head over the BBOB keeper’s head to another Pirates’ forward to finish from close range.
Despite a great effort from BBOB, they were unable to recover from the two first half goals they conceded.
Perhaps BBOB lost this week because player manager Steve Maskell ran the line, replacing the absent (having a break in France) ‘Ch**ting B****** Manager Linesman’ they usually have!!
Match report written by Paul Barton
