Fresh from last week's thrashing of bottom of the table Meadlands, Greshams gathered at Dumbarton Lane Rec for another 'relegation six pointer' against struggling Selkirk FC Reserves. Manager Cashen made an enforced change due to Rich Minns' unforeseen work commitments, so the team lined up with Rob in goals; a back four of Cashen, Cooky Hamblin and Phil; in Midfield, the Hunn, Matt, Sam and Froudy; and up front Rob and Steve Norfolk.
From the off it was clear that this would be more of a test than the Meadlands game, as the Selkirk number 10 was causing some problems and the number 15 in midfield was showing some good skill on the ball. Greshams on the other hand were frustrated for the first fifteen minutes or so. The bobbly pitch combined with a surprisingly strong wind was making control and passing difficult and Greshams were at times also guilty of causing their own problems. Selkirk had a few chances, notably when Hamblin was harshly adjudged to have committed a foul near the corner flag. A decent ball was whipped in but luckily the striker only got a half hearted contact on the ball which bobbled into the grateful arms of Rob White.
Greshams also had their chances in this opening period and Norfolk was really unlucky not to atone for last week's misses when he was found in the box by a pass from Matt. Steve produced a lob which can only be described as audacious. Unluckily instead of dropping in to the net the ball bounced agonisingly off the crossbar and away to safety.
It was Greshams who finally made the breakthrough with 20 minutes on the clock. Selkirk played the ball back to their keeper who made rather a hash of the clearance and it only reached Rob Minns, some 25 yards out. Rob took a touch and then simply thumped the ball back over the head of the back pedalling goalie and in to the net.
Not long later and Rob doubled his tally. This time a great ball down the line from Froudy found Rob running one on one with the defender. Showing great strength and pace Rob shrugged off the challenge and lashed the ball across the keeper into the far corner for another fine goal.
After two decent strikes the Greshams third could hardly have been more scruffy. A throw in near the corner flag ended with the ball being returned to the feet of Cashen who horribly scuffed his cross. As the ball trickled miserably towards the six yard box, Norfolk pounced. Steve got the faintest of touches on the ball which rolled apologetically through the keepers legs and just about over the line before stopping in the mud. Still, after last weeks' misfiring display, Norfolk was delighted with this poachers strike, and celebrated with some rude hand gestures in the direction of your match reporter.
At three nil there was just time for an attack by Selkirk which culminated in a good hit from the number 10 being well saved by Rob one handed to his right.
Half time Selkirk 0 Greshams 3
Notoriously slow starters, Greshams came out for the second half to produce a woeful first ten minutes. With Cooky in particular having a mare, passes were misplaced, runners left untracked, and generally it was a poor start to the half which culminated in Selkirk being offered a slender lifeline back in to the game. Selkirk had put together a few passes and then an unmarked midfielder turned up on the edge of the box to hit a decent low shot that gave Rob no chance.
Fortunately Greshams were able to respond. A set play to the far post found the surprising figure of the Beast, rising like a tin of salmon. The Beast somehow wrapped his neck around and produced a brilliant headed assist back across the goal to where Steve Norfolk was lurking to again prove he is lethal from point blank range.
With this goal, the Selkirk heads went down. Beardo was introduced for Phil, and Beardo's first involvement came as the ball was heading in to touch for a Greshams throw. Rather than see the ball out however, Beardo decided to control it, striding purposefully towards the ball, only for it to bounce over his head, evading his desperate attempt to get a touch with head, chest - anything - and flying in to touch anyway.
Meanwhile Greshams were piling forwards in search of more goals. Last weeks jinx in front of goal seemed to have passed from Norfolk to Froudy, who seemed determined to find as many ways as possible of keeping off the scoresheet. His repertoire included stumbles, mis-controls and lashing the ball over the bar, but luckily, his team mates were making up for this. For Greshams fifth, Hunn crossed for Matt Miller to head home from close range. The scoring was completed when Rob grabbed his hat trick goal, latching on to a route one hoof from Matt Miller, to produce a composed finish across the keeper.
As the game reached its conclusion, a rare Selkirk incursion saw a fine strike fly towards the top corner of the Greshams net only for Rob to dive across at full stretch and produce a really excellent save.
So another high scoring display from Greshams saw them move up the league and puts them in confident form for sterner challenges ahead.
Man of the Match
Taking home the match ball after a second successive hat trick, Rob has been in prolific form since being moved back up front in a tactical master stroke by manager 'Tic-Tac' Cashen. Three decent strikes on the day make Rob a well deserved recipient of the Bollinger. Well played mate.
