This game will be talked about within BBOB folklore for many years to come! BBOB went into this game with arguably the strongest first team squad available all season! BBOB manager Steve Maskell changed the usual formation to allow Tom Bunting to play as a lone striker. Regular striker and top scorer Matt Barton dropped into a five man midfield. Jac Edwards returned to the side at left midfield at the expense of Dan Buchanan. The previous week's goal scorer Jamie Eade also had to settle for a place on the bench with Adam Craig (Skin).
BBOB started fairly brightly and found themselves taking the lead in the 3rd minute, after the opposition's goalkeeper misplaced a clearance straight to Jac Edwards, his pass found Matt Barton inside the area and his left footed effort was placed under the keeper into the net. The game settled down for the next 15 minutes, with both teams trading half chances. In the 20th minute came what could have been a complete turning point in the game! A South Coast ball into the box bounced up and hit BBOB midfielder Howard Lloyd in the FACE as he attempted to clear the ball. Unbelievably the referee pointed to the spot as he awarded the opposition with a clearly unjust penalty! No South Coast City player appealed for the penalty decision to be made and looked equally as stunned as all the BBOB players! The most aggrieved player on the pitch, Howard Lloyd, showed his muddied face to ref as part of his appeal against the injustice but he was waved away! In his frustration he reacted to the referee's lack of clarity on his decision and was unluckily sent off for abusive language! To add to the drama BBOB goalkeeper Craig Watson guessed correctly and saved the penalty and it was eventually cleared with the aid of the very lucky Ryan Satterly (He knows what I mean!!)!
Despite the penalty save, BBOB felt that they were really up against it now, South Coast City were a young side with an extra player, they had won 9 nil in their previous match and were sitting third in the table. This game proved that the 'table does probably lie' as there was nothing between the two sides, and in fact BBOB were looking the strongest and the most likely to score as the game approached half time. The score remained one nil at the break!
The second half started in much the same vain with BBOB still pressing but seemingly unable to break the South Coast City defence down. Some chances were created but nothing clear cut. After 62 minutes, Chris Thomas was replaced in the BBOB central midfield by Dan Buchanan and right winger Michael McMahon (Titch) was replaced by Jamie Eade. Just after this came another potential turning point as Matt Barton was adjudged to be offside, in his frustration he verbally reacted to what he thought was another incorrect decision against him! The referee viewed his reaction as a personal attack, which it wasn't, and another red card was shown, reducing BBOB to nine players! Captain Paul Barton then spoke to the referee about the inconsistency he was showing, he asked how the other team were allowed to get away with similar offences with no punishment at all; he asked what the BBOB players had to do to ensure that they would not be sent from the field of play? The referee had no answer to these questions and booked Paul Barton for 'dissent'?
Now surely BBOB were really up against it, surely the third placed team would now punish them! Somehow this was not the case, the shambolic City were unable to deal with the situation, and in the 74th minute a fantastic cross from the left by Jac Edwards found an unmarked Jamie Eade at the far post, his well struck left foot volley sailed into the net to make it two nil! The game became very heated after this; South Coast City looked stunned and were starting to lose their heads! They were unable to create any chances throughout the whole of the second half apart from one long shot, which Craig Watson just about dealt with!! Adam Craig (Skin) replaced Tom Bunting, a very lone striker for most of the game, in the 77th minute.
In the 90th minute, with the game looking like it was somehow going to go BBOB's way, it was confirmed with a ball over the defence from man of the match Jac Edwards finding the pacey right winger Jamie Eade, he knocked the ball past the on-rushing opposition keeper and drilled the ball into an empty net from a tight angle! An incredible result and achievement for BBOB against all odds!
Match report by Paul Barton
