The rumours were that Oxted FC could be a handful, the fact that it was a nightmare to get a referee for the game should have been a good indicator for what was instore.
Once again we were playing on a pitch that we were unfamiliar with against a team who's game-plan seemed to be all about intimidation but T Gat kept there cool and didn't rise to the bait. Roberts in a rich vain of scoring form open T Gats acount first with a nice little run poking the ball past the helpless keeper 1-0 the first 15 minutes saw T Gat controll the game with some neat passing and inventive runs that saw the Oxted defence lose shape time and time again. However the balance of power shifted after the quarter of an hour mark and T Gat were pinned back they soaked up the pressure well until failure to clear the ball properly from the box lead to a lucky equaliser 1-1.
Almost straight away whilst holding of another Oxted wave of attack A Poplett released a clearance up field towards Roberts who found himself once again one on one with the keeper and again he found the back of the net 2-1.
It was an unfortunate second goal to concede with the ball once again bobbling around the area when an attempted clearance struck Ruby on the arm an the stand in ref blew for a penalty. Any feelings of biasses from the ref to T Gat must have been erased on that call there was anything the midfielder could have done about it. Litchfield did well to guess correctly for the resulting penalty kick unfortunately the ball was parried into the path of the oncoming Oxted forwards who showed no lack of composure this time round and coolly slotted the ball in to the back of T Gats net 2-2 and thats how the first half ended.
After a full 15 minute break probably needed more for the managers to cool down than for the players to take a rest the game got under-way again T Gat seemed to regain their composure and once again started to build from the back and began to penetrate Oxteds already shaky defence it was another goalmouth scramble that saw stoner get his head to the ball and watch it sail past the flailing keeper 3-2.
The third equaliser came against the run of play and saw some poor postioning result in an exquisite goal from the visitors the ball was crossed back from the left wing and Oxteds number 11 had an age to position himself and drill a shot from about 25 yards out past a helpless Litchfield ouch 3-3.
Credit to T Gat they didn't give up and with some clever little runs from constable on the left and with gunners confidence showing more and more of what he can offer all Oxted could do was result to dirty kicks here and there and after one run that seemed destined for Roberts to complete his second hat trick in as many games ended in a corner for T Gat. Garner curled the ball in and it looked to be too close to the keeper to cause any problems but he flapped at it and as to Oxted defenders jumped for the ball so did Poplett jr. One of them had contact with the ball which one will remain a mystery but as young Poplett is adamant that it was him we shall give him the benefit of the doubt and award him his second goal of the season.
Jones did make an appearance on the 87th minute for a little run about and continued his fine record of zero goals against witha 100%pass rate WOW.
The game ended 4-3 and it was a deserved victory for T Gat who now sit joint second in the table (4th on goal difference) lets take this forward boys Thomas More are the next opponents a win against them keeps us up against the title contenders we have the talent lets show the other teams we mean buisness....
