Once again teamsheet related drama started the day for Greshams, as Manager Cashen realised he had completely forgotten to print any off. Steve Norfolk steeped up but then had trouble accessing the state of the art ISFL website. With time ticking by Cashen was frantically on the phone to the Club's IT Manager Mike Potter. However, Steve was finally successful much to Cashen's relief, and so Greshams assembled rather belatedly in the home changing rooms for a rare outing at the Tuddenham Road ground.
The team was named as Rob in goals, a back four of Harry, Steve, Groggy and Cash; a midfield of Froudy, Sam, Rich Minns and Nathan, with Meng and Norfolk up front and a welcome return from Jamie Carrington on the bench. Froudy took control of the team sheets at this point, and proved himself a true Bank Manager with some efficient form filling, a veritable Captain Mainwaring to Groggy's Corporal Jones and Nathan's Private Pike.
Greshams were looking to take up where they left off in the previous game's good performance against Fat Cat and were soon knocking the ball around with some confidence. Froudy's move to midfield from right back gave Greshams an increased threat down that flank and Froud put in a few dangerous balls which unfortunately wouldn't fall quite right for Steve Norfolk in the box.
Greshams did quickly get the goal their play deserved however, and a decent goal it was too. Some good passing saw the ball reach Nathan in the box. Nathan squared the ball to Norfolk who still had a bit to do but beat the defender with confidence and lashed the ball home across the keeper with some style.
Greshams continued to press but in a fairly even first half, Rob also had to be alert and made one great save down to his right turning the ball around for a corner. However, in the main Greshams were on top but just weren't able to turn their superiority into a second goal. Their best chances fell to Nathan in a one on one where he tried to cut inside to get the ball on his right for the shot, and the defender was able to get back and cover. Then, unusually for Greshams, Norfolk Nathan and Meng seemed to decide they were Arsenal in disguise and needed to score the perfect goal, over elaborating in the area instead of lashing in a shot.
Half Time Greshams 1 Eagles 0
Urged on by their motley collection of supporters and Wags on the touch line, including their self styled Jose Mourinho of a Manager, it was inevitable that Rangers would come out fired up for the second half. Greshams were prepared for the onslaught but were unable to weather it. Within minutes of the restart, the Rangers striker bought himself a yard of space on the corner of the Greshams box and curled in a decent strike which went straight in the top corner giving Rob no chance. Then a flighted free kick saw nobody but the Eagles striker react and he looped the header over Rob. With Greshams reeling, the third goal came when Greshams missed several opportunities to clear and the striker was able to evade a few ineffective challenges before slotting the ball home.
The final goal was a personal calamity for Groggy, who seemed to have plenty of time to deal with the situation but under a bit of pressure on the angle of his own box, simply collapsed flat on his face for no apparent reason. The striker nipped in and crossed to the far post where Greshams failed to deal with it and the ball was bundled home.
Greshams did steady the ship however and while they never threatened to get back in the match they continued to play good football and create chances, albeit hindered by an 'over enthusiastic' linesman. Meng in particular had a couple of half chances where he went for the spectacular both-feet-off-the -ground scissor kick. However, he failed to quite get the connection right and ended up looking a little like the Kung Fu Panda.
With 15 to go Jamie was brought on. Cashen was intending to replace Rich Minns, who had elected to play the second half in his slippers after his boots split. However it was pointed out that Groggy was feeling, well - groggy after a lethal combination of a Quorn burger washed down with green tea. Jamie was therefore brought on as a straight swap at centre half but his first bit of action was to go on a marauding run down the left wing leaving Cashen's tactical master plan in tatters.
As the game meandered to a conclusion it was Greshams who snatched a late consolation. The goal was, in its construction if not the finish, the goal of the match. Rich Minns picked the ball up just inside the Rangers half and set off on an unstoppable rampaging run leaving defenders in his wake. With a final burst of pace Rich got to the bye line and crossed hard and low where a combination of the lumbering Rangers substitute and the rather more composed Nathan, managed to knock the ball over the line.
Full time Greshams 2 Whitton Eagles 4
Man of the match
It is fair to say results have been harsh on Greshams this year and this was another game where the result could have been different had Greshams managed to keep things tight for the first five minutes of the second half. Despite the scoreline the performance was pleasing with decent contributions all over the pitch. However Man of the Match this week goes to Froudy. Some great balls in to the box would on a luckier day have resulted in a hatful of assists and this attacking threat was combined with a lot of hard work in tracking back. Well played mate.
