BBOB commenced the 2014/15 season with a closely fought defeat against last season’s Worthing Premier champions. With the newly merged Brighton & Worthing leagues and promotion to the Premier it was a good test for the BBOB first team!
Although the match day squad was depleted in numbers (12 available players), the team available was strong, with the usual back four and goalkeeper, the regular middle pairing of Howard Lloyd and Michael (Titch) McMahon. Dan Kuxhaus played in an unfamiliar role at right midfield and there was a BBOB debut for new signing Tom Fearn at left midfield. Matt Barton & Tom Bunting completed the starting eleven up front.
BBOB started the match with conviction and created a good early chance, Tom Bunting found some space inside the box and almost forced the ball home, and from the rebound Titch fired the ball narrowly wide. Worthing Leisure picked up the pace soon after this and began to control the game with some neat passing. They moved the ball wide on a number of occasions, where they appeared to be the most dangerous, although BBOB also enjoyed plenty of the possession in the early periods of the game.
Worthing Leisure broke the deadlock in the 11th minute from close range after an edge of the area free kick was floated into the BBOB box. BBOB reacted well to this and forced a couple of half chances that nearly troubled the opposition keeper, the Worthing Leisure defence appeared vulnerable at times but were somehow able to intercept most of the final passes made by the BBOB attack.
In the 42nd minute, slightly against the run of play, Worthing extended their lead, this time with a counter attack down the left by their winger, who cut inside and fired a fierce shot beyond the BBOB keeper (Craig Watson).
Half time 0-2
BBOB started the second half slowly and failed to get their usual passing game going. There were plenty of wayward passes and unfortunately in the 52nd minute one found its way to a Worthing Leisure player in a good attacking position, he then found his fellow attacker, who made no mistake from 12 yards out!
Again, BBOB refused to lie down, three minutes later, a perfect cross into the box from right back Paul Barton found the head of Howard Lloyd, who tumbled to the ground after being pushed by an opposition defender! The referee awarded a penalty and Dan Kuxhaus buried it into the bottom left of the goal, sending the keeper the wrong way!
Could this be a famous BBOB comeback? Well it possibly could have been as BBOB were awarded a second penalty six minutes later, again for a shove on a BBOB forward! Unfortunately this time Dan Kuxhaus smashed his penalty against the upright!
BBOB were unable to make much of an impact after this, they started to tire and retreat as the opposition pushed for a fourth! BBOB defended the game well and limited Worthing to just a few chances as they saw the game out!
With 10 minutes left Dave Garrett replaced Ryan Satterly, BBOB went to three at the back but unfortunately this tactic failed to change anything and the score remained the same.
Despite the defeat there were plenty of positives to take from the game! The team performed and competed well against strong opposition, there was a promising debut from Tom Fearn at left midfield and many strong performances throughout the match.
Report by Paul Barton
