What a difference a year makes. A little over 12 months ago the 1st XI found themselves rooted to the bottom of the Arthurian League Division 1 and were extremely fortunate not to be demoted to the third tier of the league system. On Saturday they faced Old Bradfieldians in what was essentially a play-off final. The winner would step up to the glitz and glamour of the Premier Division, the loser remain where they are. Having not drawn a game all season, a stalemate was not an option for the OMs.
Upon arrival in Bradfield the squad seemed remarkably upbeat considering the occasion and despite the late withdrawal of this season’s top goalscorer, Charlie Gifford. Dan Madden replaced Sam Vaughan in goal in what was otherwise an unchanged team from the previous week. Somewhat unsurprisingly the opening exchanges were quite cagey with several passes going astray and neither team really finding their rhythm. Slowly but surely the Malvern wide men, Ayo Afolabi and Will Gifford, began to get the better of their markers and Max Kufner was fully justifying his starting berth with some great hold-up play and hassling of the centre-backs. Hard work across the pitch restricted Old Bradfieldians to a direct style of play which rarely threatened but on the one occasion it succeeded they found Madden in the way as he stayed on his feet long enough to make the save. The breakthrough came after half an hour when Afolabi was fouled out on the left. Will Murtagh’s sumptuous dead ball delivery found Afolabi unchallenged to rise and nod home. First blood to the OMs who held out to take a slender lead in to the half-time break.
As is often the case the OMs knew they would need more than one goal if they were going to secure their passage to the top flight. By packing the midfield this season we’ve learned to contain opposing teams and Saturday was no different as Murtagh, Alex Richardson and Leon Kirchhoff controlled the centre of the park. Madden, along with the defence of Ed Ford, Josh Hughes, Jake Robbins and Arthur Vaughan, was relatively untroubled considering the opposition’s need for a goal. The game was a little over an hour old when the second goal came as Richardson’s tireless running forced the opposition ‘keeper in to an error. His weak clearance landed at Gifford’s feet and he drove the ball home from 25-yards in to an empty net. The celebrations told you the OMs felt the points were safe. But they didn’t stop there - sensing the Bradfield heads drop they continued to attack. With the defence at sixes and sevens Gifford unselfishly laid the ball off to Peter Ford (on for Kufner) to blast home from eight yards. Now the party could begin! In true John Terry style Will Stephenson had even arrived en route to a wedding to join in the celebrations (see photo). Unfortunately Bradfield did grab one back when their wide man took advantage of some rare space in our defensive third leaving Madden exposed. But it was too little too late and Malvern rode out the final five minutes, with Afolabi, Gifford and Chris Elsden stretching the defence, to secure their passage to the top flight with a 3-1 victory.
The first of many beers that day were sunk in the dressing room as the squad began to reflect on the long season. For one team to achieve promotion is great, but with the Dinks topping Division 5, this season has been one of unparalleled success in recent times. Every single player can be proud of their effort, no matter how small, and as we’ve turned our fortunes around after last season’s calamities. The difference has been a consistency in availability and a new found belief that we will not be beaten. This campaign we’ve been the team to inflict comebacks rather than suffering at the hands of late goals.
The hangovers from Saturday’s party should have subsided by the time we play our final game on May 11 versus Old Haileyburians and we will get availability for that next week. In the meantime we need to fill our spots for the Arthurian League Dinner the night before (Friday May 10). We have six free tickets so please get in touch if you would like to go.
