After a month off BBOB began the New Year with arguably their toughest opponents this season, league leaders South Coast City. BBOB fielded the strongest team available to them, they welcomed back Ryan Satterly, who covered the absent Craig Watson in goal, BBOB also welcomed back Matt Barton, who began the game at left midfield. Tom Marshall replaced the suspended Dan Edwards at centre back. BBOB also welcomed new striker Richard Spicer who had to settle for a place on the bench.
Due to the recent bad weather this match was switched to the playable but incredibly tiny Crew Club pitch and it was the hosts that settled into the game the quickest. The early South Coast pressure and possession really only produced a few corners which were dealt with on most occasions by the BBOB defence. Very few chances were created in the first half by either side, the best chance for BBOB was self-created by striker John Tibbs, who upon receiving the ball on the edge of the South Coast area managed to evade two markers and fire a fierce shot towards goal. Unfortunately the South Coast keeper was close enough to gather the ball. Half time 0-0.
South Coast City started the second half the strongest and BBOB started to feel a bit stretched, particularly when too many BBOB defenders committed forward in the 55th minute and a South Coast forward was able to break quickly, luckily his low left foot drive hit the side netting! Richard Spicer replaced James Sansom-Constantini up front shortly after this.
Unfortunately a South Coast City goal was starting to seem inevitable and in the end it came from a corner and a lucky toe poke at goal from a South City defender after the ball was half punched clear by goal keeper Ryan Satterly!
BBOB refused to give up the result and continued to battle, but South Coast's confidence was now growing and some significant substitutions had been made! In the 70th minute the ball was given away in the BBOB box to a South Coast City player, his clever run eluded two BBOB defenders and a late challenge by centre back Adam Leaver gave the referee no option but to award a penalty kick. South Coast made no mistake from 12 yards and doubled their lead!
Five minutes later the game was completely out of BBOB's reach, BBOB only half cleared a cross and the ball fell kindly to a South Coast forward who buried his effort from close range. Right back Paul Barton was replaced just after this, after receiving a head injury, by Gavyn Mewett.
BBOB forward John Tibbs was then cruelly denied a goal, after his chip over the on-rushing South Coast keeper somehow bounced up, hit the bar and was cleared by the South Coast defence. Almost immediately after this South Coast increased their lead to four, a well taken goal from a decent break down the right.
BBOB and John Tibbs did finally get the consolation goal that they/he more than deserved, this time, John Tibbs timed his run to remain onside and receive a pass from midfielder Howard Lloyd, he rounded the keeper and placed the ball calmly into the empty South Coast net.
Despite the defeat this was an encouraging performance from BBOB, the circumstances were difficult, no one had played for a month (South Coast had played the week before!), this was the third time BBOB had played on this crazy narrow pitch this season but they still struggled to deal with it and play their usual passing game! There was plenty of effort and battle throughout the team in all positions which made the flattering score line and the result hard to take, but there were many positives to take from the game!
Match side reporter Paul Barton
