They say March comes in like a lion, and true to form on Sunday the teams had to contend with an animal of a strong cross-field wind. It was a bright and dry day though. Our visitors arrived as the current top of the table side-though having played a few games more than other teams near the top. We'd lost 5-2 away to them earlier in the season, a game in which we'd outplayed them for long periods, surrendering a 1-2 lead. It didn't auger well for us today as we had the bare eleven representing us-the same eleven who appeared for Friday's training session, but our name is Vikings and we were to play like Vikings.
Both sides settled immediately, and despite the visitors having and using five subs, our boys matched them in every department. It was mooted on the touchline that wholesale changes may disrupt our opponents fluency, perhaps it did. Marcus Debling, drafted in as an emergency left back, performed as if it was his natural position and locked up our left side. He was backed up by Charlie Howard, who had his best game as centre half and arguably his best ever game for us.
Tom Skinner marshalled his defence well as usual, even though the other four players around him were completely different to those who played in the game before last. Halfway through the first half Reece Igglesden pulled off a flying one-handed save, it complemented his collections and accurate distribution. In the 33rd minute they finally broke through to score, and before half time we saw a shot cannon off our bar. We'd weathered that particular storm. At 0-1 down and facing an incline our legs may have gone as the match progressed, surprisingly that wasn't the case, we forced an equaliser after 46minutes through some skilful link up play, with Mateusz Wawryszuk tucking the ball away.
The momentum was with us and in the 51st minute a delightful goal by Finley Cowell gave us a well deserved lead. Ryan James, again playing like a warrior, was the catalyst, with Galin Ivanou playing his usual strong, commanding match, and Mason King foraging and working for every opening meant the midfield began to take control.
It was no surprise when Mateusz added a third in 57th minute. The pleasing thing about this well worked goal was that as Mateusz's goal bound shot bounced into the net, Finley shepherded it across the line without touching it, so as not to deny his teammate his goal. A special 'Brownie' point for that considerate act.
Much of Faversham's play was switched to their left wing and seemed to be often concentrated there in the second half. Michael Tran had his work cut out; Charlie Steine was trying both to support him and push the attack forward. In the 62nd minute, against the run of play they got a lifeline by making it 3-2, with the only defensive mix up of the afternoon, occurring right in the centre of our six yard box. The pattern never changed with us still containing them, but playing good football, even so more traffic was coming down their left, which was their strongest area, as it had been in the latter stages of the first game in Faversham. Ryan was being dragged into the dogfight more and more, but with him and Charlie Steine double banked on occasions, it gave Michael extra cover and the ability to shut up shop at the back. In fact we owned that flank for the last fifteen minutes-a case of defending in their half-with Ryan and Charlie Steine still able to burst forward and firing in shots and setting up chances. A thoroughly deserved 3-2 victory was genuinely celebrated by all at the final whistle. Well done the 'eleven'-seems the training has perhaps had an effect.
Well played to all the lads today sounds like a great game. Thankyou to Alex (Charlie Steines Grandad) for the match report and Thanks to Carol 'Jose' Mourinho for the top management.
