A previous meeting between these sides saw Greshams holding high flying Phoenix to a draw until the 8th minute of injury time, mysteriously added on by a referee clearly friendly with the Phoenix players. So there was a grudge match feel about this for some Greshams players.
Once again there was a good turn out from Greshams who lined up: Cookie in goals; Jon, Mickey, Danno, Cash; Kieron, Luke, Frenchy, Richard; Steve and Steve with Dave Neve and Steve H as subs.
On a blustery but thankfully dry morning, Greshams meticulous pre match preparations were disrupted by Cash having to drive to Stonham to pick up Luke. Despite the lack of a warm up, the team started brightly playing some really good football. However it was Phoenix who took an early lead, with a goal almost identical to the one conceded by Greshams the previous week. The Greshams back four were slow to close down the Phoenix forward who carried the ball on unchallenged before lashing an unstoppable shot over Cookie’s head and into the roof of the net.
However Greshams kept on their game and it was only a matter of time before an equaliser came, which it duly did in the shape of an own goal after a great corner from the right by Richard Hunn.
From this point on Greshams took control of the game and went on to run up a double figure tally for the first time in many seasons. Such was the rush of goals that your reporter is unable to recall them all in detail, but there were some notable finishes among them. In the first half, Burton threw himself theatrically to the ground to win a penalty – the ref had blown too early, as Luke had stroked the ball into the net. However Luke took the ball off Burton – to the astonishment of the rest of the team – only to take a penalty which the keeper saved relatively comfortably, but luckily Richard Hunn was on hand to control and drill hole the rebound.
Having not taken the penalty, Burton scored arguably the goal of the half with a calm lob over the keeper’s head. The other two goals in the first half were typical poachers’ finishes from Steve Norfolk.
Half time Greshams 5 – 1 Phoenix
Phoenix came out for the second half on fire and determined to rise from the ashes. However Greshams, for whom Dave Neve had replaced Richard Hunn, were able to resist the early pressure and soon added further to their goal tally, going on to rack up a further five goals in the half.
Again your match reporter is hazy on the details but the outstanding goal was undoubtedly Burton’s screamer from the corner of the penalty area. Some people harshly questioned whether it was going in before hitting a defender, but it was such a sweet strike, it deserves to be credited to Burton.
Steve replaced Frenchy for the last 25 minutes with Kieron moving into the middle of midfield where he showed great energy and link up play. However that first goal continues to evade Kieron, his best effort today being a shanked attempt off the middle of the shin pad that trickled apologetically wide of the post.
The last 5 minutes were notable for some late raiding down the left by the veteran left back Cashen, having saved his energy for the previous 85 minutes, rather to the amusement of those watching from the sidelines. Suggestions that Cashen was trying to impress Mike Potter’s octogenarian mother, are wide of the mark. However the final word belonged to Luke who stroked home a cool finish for a well deserved goal to round off another top class performance in the middle of midfield.
So a very satisfactory day for Greshams who significantly enhanced their goal difference and played some great football along the way, some of the one touch play being a pleasure to watch. Statisticians are working hard to discover Greshams last 10 goal tally and it is probably even harder to recall the last time both forwards scored a hat trick. Once again the front 6 played really well while the back 4 for the most part watched on but did what was required when called on.
It was a great performance with some great goals but despite the goals scored by the forwards your reporter is controversially awarding the Man of the Match to Luke, who gave a great display of tackling running passing and vision in the middle of the park. Well played Luke.
