St Michaels F C 4 Bexleyheath F C 2 Game played on 21/10/12
St Michaels turned up expecting another goal fest having beaten their opposition 7 – 0 earlier in the season. Unfortunately over confidence and a backlash from last week’s first defeat of the season meant that the game turned into a battle and St Michaels had to dig deep to secure the three points.
The game started fiercely and it was after only 2 minutes when a rash challenge by the Bexleyheath number 2 on Adam Fahy led to a yellow card. Two minutes later St Michaels were unlucky when Ronnie Mewes hit the bar. After 12 minutes a mistake in goal by Harry Graham led to Bexleyheath taking the lead with a simple tap in. In the 20th minute it was St Michaels who had a yellow card when Sam Meade was foolishly booked for dissent to the referee. Seven minutes later it was Tom Pexton’s turn to find the woodwork when a rising drive from outside the box crashed against the crossbar.
On the 36th minute St Michaels suffered further bad luck when a Danny Baptiste header hit the bar. The Bexleyheath goal continued to lead a charmed life and half time came with the score 0 – 1 to Bexleyheath. At half time Jack Jolly replaced James Mckerrell who had to leave due to work commitments.
In the 54th minute Danny Baptiste missed an easy chance in front of goal and St Michaels were made to pay a minute later when the Bexleyheath Centre Forward scored with a great shot from outside the box. Things were looking bleak for St Michaels but in the 63rd minute a good pass by Harry Smart left Adam Fahy with time on the left to smash in and reduce the deficit. Two minutes later St Michaels hit the bar again through Jack Jolly but this time the ball was scrambled into the net by Danny Baptiste to level the scores at 2 – 2.
St Michaels were laying siege to the Bexleyheath goal and it came as no surprise when in the 71st minute a header from Sam Meade crept over the line to give St Michaels the lead at 3 – 2. Two minutes later the victory was secured when a good cross from Adam Fahy found Danny Baptiste in the box and he applied his trademark tap in to make the score 4 – 2. The rest of the game continued in the Bexleyheath half but St Michaels were unable to add to the score and the game finished 4 – 2.
It really was a game of 2 halves with a terrible 1st half being followed by a battling 2nd half. St Michaels dug deep and got the result they deserved. Special mentions this week go to Tom Pexton who in the 1st half covered every blade of grass, Ben Baptiste who took over Tom’s mantle in the 2nd half and Jack Jolly who looked comfortable when he came on at half time. Man of the Match this week though goes to Danny Baptiste who added lots of running and effort to his ever growing goal tally.
