Three crazy second half minutes set BBOB on course to an opening day victory. BBOB started slowly, allowing Peacehaven too much time on the ball and to apply pressure on the BBOB defence. Peacehaven had the better chances early on and in fact had the ball in the BBOB net in the 20th minute, only for the referee to harshly call an offside decision to disallow the goal. Just before this Peacehaven hit the post after a cross field ball into the box was missed by everyone.
BBOB picked up their game after this, but were struggling to play the passing football that they were used to, despite this chances were created, debutant Adam (Skin) Craig missed from close range after some good work from centre forward Matt Barton and left winger Jac Edwards. With another attack BBOB had three attempts on the Peacehaven Goal, with the opposition's keeper making a fine save and the cross bar also playing its part. Peacehaven were starting to frustrate the BBOB attack who deserved a goal and they frustrated BBOB even further on the stroke of half time. A Peacehaven corner played high into the box found an unmarked Peacehaven attacker, his downward header bounced up goal bound into the roof of the net leaving the BBOB keeper (Craig Watson) stranded! Half time 0-1.
After a good half time team debate, BBOB immediately set about rectifying what had gone before, and within two minutes of the re-start Adam 'Skin' Criag latched onto a loose ball on the edge of the Peacehaven area, and planted his shot into the bottom left hand corner of the goal. A minute later, Jac Edwards fired a hard low cross into the area and last season's top scorer Matt Barton got his first this season from close range to give BBOB the lead. Straight from kick off the Peacehaven skipper & centre forward ran the length of the BBOB half unchallenged and fired a cross into the six yard box, finding his striking partner, his shot ricocheted off right back Keith Churchward's legs and dropped over the line to level the score! Seconds later BBOB re-took the lead, left winger Adam Craig somehow got between two Peacehaven defenders and cut back a cross to the unmarked Matt Barton who slotted the ball into the Peacehaven net from 12 yards. It was only the 49th minute at this point.
The game settled briefly after this, with BBOB now growing in confidence and in the 64th minute Matt Barton got his third of the game, a headed clearance from centre-back Paul Barton from a Peacehaven free kick found its way to Jac Edwards on the left, after a long run, he fired a great cross into the box and somehow Matt Barton volleyed it in with a back heel! Controversy followed this, when BBOB were awarded a penalty after a great run from Adam Craig, he was tripped on the edge of the area and the referee decided it was inside the box. Protests from the Peacehaven players resulted in a red card (possibly after a second yellow?). Matt Barton stepped up and fired the penalty straight at the keeper who then managed to clear the ball away.
BBOB made it 5-2 in the 70th minute, a great through ball from centre forward Buchanan found his fellow striker, Matt in space and another cool finish past the on-rushing keeper gave Matt his fourth of the game. The rout was complete in the 74th minute when Jac Edwards found some space on the edge of the Peacehaven area and fired a shot into the top left hand corner of the net! BBOB did not sit back after this and continued to push for a seventh goal, there was a narrow headed miss from Howard Lloyd and debutant substitute Sam Bullen came close twice.
A good opening game result for BBOB, after a slow start, with some great individual performances, including a fantastic debut from Adam 'Skin' Craig and Chris Thomas returning for his first game after an injury last season.
Match report by Paul Barton
