Brewer late Delivery
So the waiting was finally over. After a long successful pre-season Brewer FC league campaign got underway in what proved to be a hard fought affair against Sawbridgeworth Town. All the hype before the game and the expectation has been built up for this moment with many tipping Brewer FC as favourites to win the league this season they had that extra pressure to deliver something on the opening game.
Good lined the team up in the same shape he has used all pre-season and demanded a fast paced start, this was not how the game began though. Misplaced passes a lack of shape and more worryingly a lack of desire saw Brewer FC fall behind on the 25minute mark from a poorly defended corner. Brewer continued in a very unfamiliar, sloppy fashion making half chances but nothing like the Brewer of pre-season who could score at will, this was followed on the 30minute when Joe Watts (who looked to be Brewer most dangerous player at this point) went through one on one with the keeper but was forced wide and ended up squandering the chance.
On the 35minute mark Colin Hatton was substituted after taking a heavy blow to his right foot. His replacement saw the introduction of Gavin Calder who ultimately turned the game around for Brewers with a majestic performance. The next 10minutes until half time Brewer begun to show what they could do and Sawbridgeworth looked relieved to hear the half time whistle.
Without a doubt Good was clearly unimpressed with his side’s first half display and no doubt he gave them a dressing down during the break.
The 2nd half saw the introduction of new signing Sam Jiggins for one of Brewer longest serving players and birthday boy Jamie Croft but more importantly Goods side flew out the blocks. They looked like a completely different team to the side which plodded through the first half and on the 57th minute they reaped the rewards. After some solid defensive work and good play through Midfield team captain Mark Reed picked up the ball just inside Sawbridgeworth’s half, he lifted his head up and played a sumptuous through ball to Watts who took a touch and finished clinically, smashing the ball in to the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance. It was inevitable at this point that the momentum had shifted and with Brewer looking far fitter and sharper Good would not of settled for anything less than a win at this juncture. The next change saw the introduction of Tom Bush for debutant Tyler Bailey in the middle of the park and Bush had an instant impact going close with a curled effort from the edge of the box which was well blocked by a defender. Corner after corner rained down on the Sawbridegworth’s goal and that 2nd goal which Brewer craved looked to be drawing closer.
Luke Felton took the home sides 3rd corner in a row but it was over hit only to be picked up by Gavin Calder who put a cross back in to the danger zone which debutant Jiggins latched on to and buried to make it 2-1 to Brewer.
Sawbridgeworth looked down and out at this point and went desperate sticking 3 up front. The Brewer defence remained solid and did not look bothered by anything which was thrown at them. On the 70minute mark Good bought on long term servant to the club Rich Felstead for another solid debutant David Honour. Shortly after this he switched over to a 4-5-1 leaving Watts to play the lone striker role. Brewer cruised the last 15minutes and almost scored a 3rd when Reed found himself in acer’s one on one with the goalkeeper only to fluff his lines and put the ball past the post. Having said this he did almost appear to have too much time and despite this miss he was inspirational all day chasing down every lost cause and making some crunching tackles along the way.
All in all it was about getting the job done against an unknown quantity and on the whole Brewer did this playing their way. No doubt Good will not want to see a 1st half display like this again but overall he was pleased with the win and to get the “train journey” moving in the right direction.
#COYB
