On a bright dry day we faced one of the two teams who will now win the division. Before the game I noted the firm ground, and also the length of the grass and uneven surface-houses side of the pitch, and warned Charlie of the problems they might bring. I never realised that the first three goals scored against us would be linked to these factors.
After just four minutes attacking downhill Hythe sent in a bouncing long ball-misjudgement in coming off his line by Marcus and a lob put us behind. Four minutes later and a repeat performance saw us trailing 0-2. We had been comfortably competing up to this point but the third goal, arriving on fourteen minutes, effectively killed the game. The ball, chased down our right into a dangerous area saw the ball over hit. Michael, who had a very good game, went to clear it. The ball coming wildly off a tussock, moved enough so that the clearance spun away and behind. It was OK because Brad moved to clear his lines, but again the ball hit another grassy bump and sliced off his boot. Full credit to the Hythe forward who had kept running and drilled their third, beating Marcus at the near post.
Talking to Jack on the touchline I was still convinced there was something in this game for us. Mason tried throughout, and Jack continued in the same vein when he came on. Alfie had a really good game, pushing forward constantly. We dug deep and playing some good football Finley slotted the ball home in the twenty ninth minute, it was well deserved.
Sadly three minutes later they restored a three goal lead, which remained the score at half time.
The signs were that we would improve in the second half, with no more instances of committing footballing suicide. So it proved, and the strong unit of Galin, Ryan-being declared fit just before the KO, and Charlie Steine saw some excellent moves test the Hythe defence. On the touchline their manager became increasingly concerned, he became frantic on occasions after we pulled it back to 2-4 in the forty ninth minute. A foul on Finley on our left, a great inswinging free kick from Ryan, and a sumptuous header by Tom, hit the back of the net like a rocket. Two minutes later and their manager appeared to be about to explode as we nearly scored again. Finley in a one-on-one played the ball against the sprawling keeper, Joey, with his back to goal hooked the rebound towards the unguarded goal-but it dropped wide. We kept slugging away but finally we virtually lost the impetus in the sixty fifth minute. We conceded a free kick outside the box, and the ball was sweetly hit over the wall and into the right of our goal. Five minutes later and they made it 2-6 with a very good move. We stuck with the task for the remainder but our misfortune in the opening quarter of an hour of the match had effectively done for us. It was just a bridge too far to overcome. They are likely to be crowned champions and are not four goals better than us, which in my opinion indicates our true status.
Thanks to Alex Steine for the match report.
Unfortunately the defensive mistakes cost us today, the long ball over the top and our failure to haad the ball clear left us with a mountain to climb. We did cut those mistakes out second half and deservedly got back into the game but we were unable to claw our way back.
Excellent performances from Men of the Match : Charlie Steine and Galin Ivanou.
