Our 50s hosted Bay City Strollers in the latest of our league games at Aylesham on Sunday 17 November. We knew that this was going to be a difficult game with Bay City starting the season well and being unbeaten having drawn against Herne Bay and beaten Range Rovers already.
The game started with both teams sparring and probing each other without either side getting any real penetration or making clear chances. We struggled to break down their back line and they defended in numbers being kept at arms length and limited to long range speculative shots from Gareth and John R.
Bay City on the other hand started to gel better and managed to start to formulate attacks in numbers. Our defence held strong though with several strong blocks and interceptions made by Phil and Paul with Jason disrupting them in the midfield. As the half progressed though they continued to be the stronger side and their forward managed to find a pocket of space and his low shot hit the post. The rebound unfortunately hit Steve E on the back and agonisingly dribbled over the line off of the other post.
This gave them further momentum and we struggled to pick ourselves up. They continued to push and were fortunate to score a second when and blocked shot by Paul bounced back off of Phil straight to their player right in front of the goal.
That was virtually the last action of the first half and we went in two down. Bay City deserved the lead on the standard play but we felt a little aggrieved by the way that they had scored. Our discipline had not been good either and we were on the precarious precipice of giving a penalty away having committed 3 running offences in the first half. We agreed we need to improve the indiscipline and get our football going, using the width and moving the ball quicker.
This, however, went out of the window within seconds of the restart when we committed the fourth running offence and the penalty was given. Steve E, however, kept us in the game with an excellent save of the spot kick and this proved the catalyst we needed to get us going.
All of sudden we were able to press higher and they were struggling to move the ball or retain possession. We pressed their defence and had them pinned into a corner. The defender attempted to play the ball out having received the ball from their keeper but only managed to pass it to Jason who was unmarked and in front of goal. He despatch the shot high to the keeper's left and we were back in the game.
Bay City were also suffering from indiscipline for not walking and were on 3 offences. We now had the upper hand and were playing our style of football. Fresh legs were introduced and Bay City were chasing the ball. The inevitable happened and they were caught for a fourth offence and we were awarded the penalty. Gareth sent the spot kick low into the bottom left corner and we were level.
Both teams continued to push for a winner with Jason shooting just wide and Gareth struck the bar with the goalkeeper well beaten. Equally we defended resolutely with Bay City playing for any free kick that they could get. The game became very physical with both sides guilty of more and more contact offenses as both teams were going for a winner and the back lines getting bodies in the way of shots and trying to win the ball back.
Despite the best efforts of both sides, the defensive lines held strong the game finished a 2 - 2 draw which was probably the right result for a very competitive and good spirited game.
My thanks as always to the team that gave their all as ever and put their bodies on the line (Phil's head for sure) and that includes the substitutes that entered the fray and gave us fresh and sustained impetus.
My thanks and apologies to the additional substitutes that were not used but had turned up to play.
Finally to all of the support we had. Your comments and encouragement from the side lines was as vociferous and needed as ever and was never unheeded and much needed at times.
The Player Of The Match Award went to Steve E for the several saves he made in open play but especially for the penalty save that was top notch.
Paul
