So the season has finally started. Actually Bunburys started 20 minutes after Blacons.
For the first 20 mins Bunbury were still on their summer holidays. Unforetunatley in that 20 minutes they lost 3 goals.
However the fight back at the end of the first half and for the second half was spectacular.
A slight change of formation, by pushing Dickens up front on his own and dropping Wright back into midfield ensured a more balanced forward looking formation.
With Dickens defending from the front and the industrous Chesworth and Drinkall taking control of midfield, Bunbury began to claw their way back into the game.
Ten minutes into the second half and Bunbury got a foot back into the game. A near post corner delivered by Drinkall got stuck under Wrights feet, but squirmed free to Chesworth to scramble home the goal.
From then on the game got a little 'intense'. With Blacon on the back foot a few underhand tactics crept into the game with the inevitable retaliation by Bunbury. The referee kept all players on the field with a calm control of the situation.
However on 50 minutes the referee appeared to have got a major call wrong. The wonderfully skilful Ford sped past the last defender into the box, only to be pushed from behind whilst in the action of shooting. To the astonishment of Bunbury all claims for a penalty were waved away.
With 5 minutes left Bunbury ensured a grandstand finished. Another of Wrights perfectly weighted through balls fell into the path of the lightning quick Chesworth, who with superb control and composure sped to the edge of the box and smashed a thunderbolt passed the hapless keeper.
The last few minutes bordered on the frantic and at times nasty. With the Blacon left back continually left looking silly by Chesworth and Drinkall revenge was taken by studs being raked down the calf of Drinkall. With admiral self control no retribution was sought by the Bunbury player even though his only reward was a free kick on the touchline and to limp for the remainder of the game.
Try as they might, no equaliser was forth coming, and so ended a highly enjoyable first game of the season. Blacon have to be concerned about their Jeckyll and Hyde performance whilst Bunbury, if they start playing the same time as the opposition have a lot to look forward to this season.
Bunbury:
1. King - Solid throughout with 2 excellent saves towards the end show just what a good goal keeper he is
2. Kenyon - Solid performance from the captain as usual. Could do with being a little more vocal
4. Aidley - strong disciplined game. Made lots of important interceptions
14. Carss - Gets better and better. Has now added composure to his game.
9. Dickens - Fantastic workrate. Defending from the front kept Blacon on the back foot enabling Bunbury to get back into the game
6. Chesworth - MOM. Another all action performance resulting in 2 deserved goals.
11. Drinkall - Fabulous first game for the team. Great engine, lots of skill and strength. Has fitted in perfectly.
10. Ford - A quiet first few minutes (like the rest of the team) but once started was a continual threat to the Blacon defence. Drawing numerous fouls with little protection from the official. Admiral tracking back to help the defence,
8. Once withdrawn to a more central position, Wright was able to show his reading of the game and deft touches with numerous inch perfect passes. Had a hand in both goals.
*Please note. Poetic license is both noted and intended!
