Meads trudged down to Beckenham on a cold, crisp Saturday to face a 2nd placed oppo who'd had an unbeaten start to the
season.
Sierocinski returned in goal for the missing Castle, Livsey made his football comeback from a life threatening injury, and
Ovie was welcomed back to the team. Meads started well, using the slightly more sturdy wing areas to assert themselves (the middle was a swamp!). Champion
on the left, ably supported by the marauding runs of leftback Livsey, and Sithole on the right, were forcing the Natwest
defence all sorts of problems. The first chance came when Mayou controlled a bouncing ball outside the area and hit a
dipping shot which bounced just wide of the post. Mayou was in again from a clipped ball from Willis minutes later, only to
see his lobbed effort again bounce past the post and to hear the ref blow for a marginal offside.
Meanwhile, Meads were playing a fantastic defensive game. Big & Little Kev sat deep in front of the back floor, forcing
Natwest to attempt long balls over the top which were mopped up by the defence led by the outstanding Jon Sellars. On
the rare occasion a ball was played through, the tenacity of Andy Sellars and Willis, and the alertness of Sierocinski, made
situations safe as the opposition became increasingly frustrated with each other. Their main threat came from central
midfield, who were hassled and harried despite the shocking surface, by the ever aware Kev's.
The first goal came midway through the half from a misplaced Natwest pass. Mayou intercepted 30 yards from goal, taking
a touch and for the second week running playing a perfect ball through to Morson who stroked the ball home, rather
fortuitously, through the keeper. Another assist for Mayou and goal for Morson, as the Meads new look striking partnership
continues it's impressive start.
The rest of the half was played out much the same, Natwest controlling possession, but unable to break down a solid Meads
defence. The half time whistle went, and an impressive Meads went in 1â€ÂÂ0 up. Natwest came out strongly in the 2nd half, pushing the ball wider earlier and putting more pressure on the Meads defence. Livsey and Andy Sellars were under constant pressure, dealing with almost everything before a clean ball could be played in. When a ball did come in, the central defence and Sierocinski, managed to get something on it to clear away.
Meads created the first real chance of the half. After a Sithole corner, the ball pinballed around the box, only to drop to Jon
Sellars 2 yards out. However, the ball stuck up in the mud leaving the big man probably over the line, but the ball lying
stubbornly not! The scramble continued and again the ball spun towards Jon, still 2 yards out, only for his stretching effort
leaving him wrapped round the post and the ball rolling heartbreakingly wide.
Natwest almost immediately made Meads pay. A well worked move on the right led to a whipped ball in which, for once,
the defence failed to deal with. Their striker got a good header on it, only the ball to hit Sierocinski's right hand post. It was
a moment of luck, but one which Meads throughly deserved for all their effort.
Mayou then picked up a worrying knee injury in an inoculous looking challenge, leading to the introduction of Ovie.
Meads should then have then taken the lead when Morson sprinted free from the halfway line with just grass and keeper in
front of him. True to form, Morson waited and waited before tamely nudging a ball into the keepers legs. The collective
groans from a tiring Meads team could be heard as far away as the Riverside Lands, but Morson and Meads would not lie
down easily.
Sithole was put in, only to be blocked before he could get an effort on target.Ovie was then played through and after
showing blistering pace to beat the defender and reach the ball first, he blazed a cracking effort just over the bar.
The 2nd goal Meads so desperately needed came in a spectacular, if suprising, fashion with 5 minutes remaining. Ovie and
Champion combined on the right, before the ball dropped out on the edge of the box 25 yards out. Morson, with the ball
slightly behind him, span and hit a fantastic first time effort into the top corner of the net past a flailing keeper. Definitely a
collectors item!
The game came to a close with Meads dead on their feet, but still showing maximum work rate. A massively well deserved
2â€ÂÂ0 victory, built on the amazing effort and tireless quality of the defensive 6. The work rate of Champion and Sithole
caused the Natwest defence no rest, and Morson and Mayou's constant running and pressurising meant nothing was easy
for the oppo.
MOM votes were fairly shared across the team, with Morson, Willis, Moose all receiving votes. However, Jon
Sellers took the honours with an almost faultless display (we'll forget the two 2â€ÂÂyard chances, shall we?) which epitomised
the efforts and class of the team on the day.
Fantastic display, a clean sheet and the continuation of Meads improving form. 6 more points before Christmas, and the
Champions League places are more than a possibility.
MEADOS!!!!!
