This week’s opposition for the mighty Belvedere was a struggling George Jewels side that could only get nine men as well as the cold and damp weather at Budmouth. Belvedere where again without there manager Dulston as he was away so Greg Collins took charge on the sidelines as he couldn't play due to the risk of smudging his new tattoo. Matty Mercer was missing the game with other commitments but welcomed back into the squad were Hine, Turner and Deano Hoey. Collins made some formation changes going with a 4-3-3 compared to Dulstons usual 4-4-2 with Turner coming into centre back to partner the returning Dixon, Sowerby moving into midfield to partner Ross-McKensie and Campbell-bell dropping into midfield from upfront pushing on Rawlings and Hine to support Byatt upfront.
The game got underway slightly late due to the last minute change of venue from Redlands to Budmouth but that didn’t disrupt the Belvederes fine form and rythim of late as they started with wave after wave of attack against the 9 men of George. Many fine saves from the George goalie and some lack lustre finishing from the belvedere forwards saw them fail to score for the first 10 minutes. Then after some good passing play from the Belve found Hine on the right wing where he cut inside and pulled back from the George by-line leaving Byatt the easiest of tap-ins.1-0.
Again came more chances for Belvedere as McKensie, Rawlings, Campbell, Hine & Byatt all came close with half chances, but with belvedere failing to find the end product with either their passing or shooting a dreadful mistake by Tezza Hoey with a strange miss-hit back pass led the George to a corner. This was whipped in and after it hit the underside of the bar it deflected to a George player to nod home for 1-1.
Belvedere started to wonder if it was going to be their day after more missed chances and what seemed a perfectly good goal by Hine was ruled out for offside. Then a surging run from the back by Turner saw him lay off the ball at the edge of the box to Byatt where he dispatched with a great drive leaving the keeper no chance.2-1.
With some words of encouragement to the boys and tactic changes by Collins at half time the Belvedere went to a 3-5-2 formation where Campbell pushed back up front and Rawlings back into the midfield and Sowerby dropping into defence with Atree and Terry providing the width on the wings. The changes had great effect with some good wide play from Terry and Campbell on the left getting balls into the box and Atree and Sowerby doing the same on the right. Some play down the middle led to Campbell passing to Hine who found the top corner from the 16yards.3-1. The next goal came shortly after and what a goal with Byatt getting his hatrick with a lay off outside the area from Campbell he curled the ball into the top corner leaving the keeper no chance.4-1. A quick corner by Terry found Campbell who hit a long range strike from the left flank towards the top right corner of the George goal and what seemed to be a good finish was snatched away as Dixon headed it on the goal line and then got ruled out for offside. The game was one-way traffic now and that saw changes with McKensie making way for Deano and Terry for Howard giving all the boys a run out. Good wing play from Attree saw him cut back in the box for Rawlings to slot home into the bottom corner 5-1. Then some neat triangles on the left with Hine finding Campbell who then shot into the top corner making it 6-1. It was now just gung-ho attacking for Belvedere as Sub Deano drove down the right wing and cut inside with a great piece of “Ronaldo” esc skill on the by-line pulling the ball back to Hine to tap in for 7-1. Deano full of confidence now found himself unlucky shortly after his assist with a chance when he chipped up and volleyed a strike inside the box but only straight at the George keeper. The Finale goal came when the ball was played out wide to Sowerby who in acres of space had time to pick his pin point cross which found Rawlings head and off his ear into the goal for 8-1. Over all the Belvedere played some good stuff in parts and that should have been expected against 9 men but take nothing away from Belve as the effort and spirit put in by the George kept them going making it a hard game at times and their keeper had a fine game keeping the score from being in double figures.
The Belvedere ran out convincing winners in the end but in a game that started with perhaps over confidence they found there game and shooting boots in the second half and did what they had to do “you can only beat what is in front of you” now we have to take that into the next game where a much sterner test surely awaits against top of the league Dolphin!
