It was a cold and drizzly morning as Greshams met up at the Club, only to find that a late call off from Snelly had left them with a bare 11. It was a strong 11 however, and with the exception of the introduction of Steve Hamblin in place of the absent Cookie, Greshams lined up unchanged from the previous week, with Josh in goal; a back four of Tommo, Newts, Steve H and Rob; in midfield Froudy, Tom, JP and Cash; with up front Steve Burton and Rob.
The opposition had turned up, strangely, with 10 plus a linesman, and this combined with the opposition's poor defensive record, seemed to lull Greshams into a slightly over confident start, when they nevertheless managed to look dangerous and sharp in possession, with an early chance falling to Rob. However, to the shock of everyone, it was Northam who took a fortunate lead. Greshams had turned up with no linesman so they couldn't really complain when no decision was given, but the striker looked a good ten yards offside as the ball was played through to find him on his own in acres of space. He took the ball on and rounded Josh and slotted home to stun Greshams.
The lead couldn't last long and fortunately for Greshams it was Burton who was on the end of a chance. Rob pulled the ball back from the bye line and Steve struck it confidently across the keeper for the equaliser. Shortly later Greshams took the lead as Froudy showed that he does after all know the location of the onion bag, producing a sharp finish after good work by Tom.
Greshams were now on top and the next scorer was the veteran Cashen, who was put through by Burton, sprinted clear of the defence, and finished neatly with a toe poke that trickled apologetically in to the net. Next on the scoresheet was Rob, and the goal was all his own work as he pressurised the defender and nicked the ball off him before going on, rounding the keeper, and producing a confident finish. Tom got the fifth that Greshams deserved, played in by Rob, he held off a strong challenge and then produced a nice little left footed finish as he was falling to the ground.
Somewhere between the goals came a quite astonishing miss from Steve Burton. He found himself one on one with the keeper, rounded him confidently, and then took a touch with his left foot that instead of controlling the ball, sent it harmlessly into touch. It was a miss to rival Froudy's shocker from the opening game of the season!!!
The flurry of goals preceded a sloppy end to the half, as Greshams conceded position, and we're caught out when the Northam striker hit a lob from distance that caught Josh off his line and clutching fresh air as the ball sailed into the net.
Half time Greshams 5 Northam Celtic 2
It had been a satisfactory half for Greshams but there was still room for improvement. Luckily the second half display was much more emphatic.
First to score was that man Burton and what a goal it was, more than making up for his earlier howler. Put through by Froudy, Burton nonchalantly launched a great shot from distance that simply flew into the top corner. Another great finish followed, this time from Rob with an assist by Jonny. Next to score was Tom, the provider being Froudy, the King of Assists. Froudy's good work was matched by Tom's assured left foot finish from close range.
The next goal was again from the veteran player manager, but was really all about his son's good work. Tom ran brilliantly from deep and, mindful of not wanting to have his pocket money stopped, put the ball on a plate for Cashsenior. After last week's embarrassing effort, Cashen was more than capable of missing this, but kept his eye on the ball to finish with apparent composure. Burton struck again next, collecting a square ball from Cashen and lashing the ball home from distance for a highly impressive hat trick that suggests the talismanic striker is coming back to his best.
Greshams were right on their game now and scoring some fine goals, and the next one was a belter from Tommo, who was unleashed by Froudy before lashing in an absolutely unstoppable shot from an angle. Next was a hat trick for Rob, and although against a reduced side, it was a well deserved first hat trick for the club. The hat trick goal was was assisted by Tom, who then himself completed his first hat trick for the Club when a mis hit shot from Burton bounced kindly for Tom to head home from close range. The final goal came from Steve Burton with a cheeky back heel after more good work by Froudy down the right.
So Greshams ran out very comfortable winners and even though the opposition ended with only 9 men, this was a very efficient display. What a pity the makeshift striker Steve H couldn't get on the end of anything to cap the victory off.
Given their struggle for numbers Northam played the game in good spirit and it is almost a shame they didn't get a consolation when their striker, on a hat trick, found himself one on one with Josh but hit a truly horrible effort woefully wide.
Having turned up on two occasions with only 8 men last season, Greshams know how it feels to be on the end of such situations. However they did what was needed and at times played with real style to produce an emphatic result which wipes out the goal difference deficit caused by their own ten man display in their last league outing.
Full time: Greshams 14 Northam 2
Man of the Match
Plenty of candidates for man of the match, as even those not on the scoresheet contributed to the performance. However the Moët this week goes to Steve Burton who is enjoying having Rob alongside him and is looking back to his old lethal best. Well played.
