"Look at our players looking around at each other trying to work out who to blame. The thing is no-one is to blame - that was such a good goal"
Those were the words spoken by a watching father as the Old Bradfieldians goalkeeper picked the ball out of the net for the fifth time. It was a five-star performance from the OMs on Saturday as we crushed OBs 5-0.
It started fairly evenly with both sides feeling their way in to the game until the deadlock was broken midway through the half. A quick succession of passes led to Will Gifford putting his younger brother, Charlie, through on goal. The keeper got a hand to his shot but not enough to prevent it finding the corner. It wasn't long until the second arrived. This time Charlie Gifford turned provider when his ball across the box was turned in by PeterFord at the front post. The OMs hit the woodwork twice, courtesy of Pete Ford and Will Murtagh but were unable to add to their lead.
Much like the previous week the OMs went in at half time two goals to the good. The next goal was key. The home side struggled to break down the OMs but when they did get sight of goal they found Dan Madden in imperious form. He made three saves at crucial junctures in the match to extinguish any hopes OBs had of a comeback. Then, with 20 minutes left on the clock with the game still very much in the balance, Alex Richardson found himself on the corner of the box with everyone expecting him to pick a killer pass. Instead he bent the ball up and over the stranded keeper into the top corner. It was a goal worthy of winning any game from an unlikely source. Number four followed almost immediately. Charlie Gifford was chasing down a long ball in the opposition penalty area when he was needlessly bundled over. Peter Ford had the honour of finishing from the spot. Then came that fifth goal, just minutes from the end. Madden bowled the ball out to Jake Robbins who knocked it forward to Pete Ford's feet. The striker laid it off to Jamie Richardson whose precision pass fell into the path of the younger Gifford. With a flick of his heel he nonchalantly tee'd it up for the on rushing Murtagh, who took one touch to get it out of his feet before sliding the ball beyond the keeper. 5-0; it was a rout but nothing more than we deserved.
From one to twelve it was an accomplished performance. That of a team growing in confidence and one where everyone knows their role and that of each of his teammates. A message has certainly been sent to the league and its great to be up in the top spots at this stage, but this must be seen as the foundation on which to build the rest of the season.
