After a great win away at Raydon last week a much changed Greshams made there way through the meat wagons and extra security for a local derby against Taverners up at the home ground but away. The change of changing rooms seemed to stump Rob White who couldnt get his head around why we werent changing in the normal dressing room and proved difficult for Steve Norfolk, but eventually he proudly managed to negotiate his way 5 yards to his right to conquer the mystery of where we were meant to be. After the usual pre match banter about what cashen was getting himself up too and roaring laughter at absolutely nothing.....assistant/captain Hamblin announced the team of Big Nev in goals, a start for Dan Mayhew in the absence of our very own 'Big Rom' Julian at left back, Hamblin and the returning smell of Groggy at centre halves and Danny Bond right back. In midfield Ollie returned on the left, Heady and Rich Minns in the middle and Froud on the right. Up top Norfolk was joined by the pace of Nathan. Greshams were slow out of the blocks as Taverners had more of the ball but a few corners aside they didnt threaten too much. Against the run of play the eccentric crazy goalkeeper and Tavs defender got in ever such a muddle and Ollie nipped in and with great composure lobbed the ball over them both into the back of the net. Greshams managed to get a foothold into the game and the midfield were linking well with the pace of Nathan and the wily cunning play of Big Bad Norfolk who was winning everything in the air. Groggy and Hamblin marshalled the two strikers well and the full backs were solid. As we kicked off the second half within 5-10 minutes Taverners levelled when the tricky number 8 let fly from 25 yards and his shot hit the underside of the bar and dropped over the line. A double change from Pep Hamblin proved inspired as he took himself off and Dan Mayhew replacing with Sam and Gareth. Rich Minns moving back to centre back and Sam in the middle with ollie moving back to left back and Gareth slotting in on the left. Greshams regained the lead when heady was taken from behind - it looked soft as he glided into the area under no real appeal. Froudy stepped up and sent the goalkeeper the wrong way. It was too be 3 moments later when Nathan struck his shot into the bottom corner/middle of the eccentric keepers goal. Nathan made it 4 in quick time when his pace proved too much for Taverners and the goalkeeper once again - Nathan rounded everyone to bobble his effort into the bottom corner. After playing some great football to get a 4-1 lead we got a little complacent and Tavs were back in it as a corner went over Robs head and the Tavs attacker tapped in unmarked - Groggy said he hid well behind the goalkeeper I dont know if that was a reference to the frame of big Nev - or an insight into groggys ability to tell the colour blue from a maroon shirt! Tavs pushed one further forward in search of a a way back this seemed to cause chaos and fox Groggy in particular as they had 1,2...3 up front! Pinball ensued in the Greshams area and the extra Tavs forward jump above Heady to make it 4-3. Greshams managed to hold out for a 4-3 victory despite some late pressure where the goalkeeper came up for a corner, spoiling for a fight for the latter end of the half the referee gave a foul against him as him and Rob White grappled on the floor - Groggy showing his inner David Attenborough compared them too 'Two mating badgers'. Gareth was pushed forward more than needed to be for the last 15 due to the fact he thought it was 3-3...showing his inner Groggy! Another cup, another win for the Greshams boys as they make there way to Pauls for the penultimate league game before the winter break next week.
MOTM this week - A very close vote this week - votes for Heady, Groggy and Norfolk but the vote was a tie between Rich Minns and Nathan before I realised i hadnt voted!
So MOTM and the bottle of champers goes to Nathan for two goals and adapting well to helping the team and moving up front. well played mate!
