Match Report

The historians will all look back on this game and see a score line that includes a Dave Thompson double. Dave’s fourth double this season, top goal scorer for the club, and well deserved through all his hard work and industrious running off the ball, not being afraid to take on players and shooting when sensing an opportunity. However, it will also show Josh Travers as scoring. This is significant. Historians may also note that when Josh scores we get something out of a game, a win or a draw. Josh is a bit like a pint of Carlsberg lager ‘Probably the player who has most assists to Dave Thompson’s goals in the world.’

Josh cleverly links the play, he finds space and I have hardly seen him give the ball away. Also his excellent attitude to each game and tough tackling without any fuss, winning aerial battles that keep his smile whiter than white. Today the midfield stopped Bexley playing any football and forced unforced errors from the opposition. Ben Tomkins playing a defending left midfield role tracking and marking his opposite number out of the game. Piers was in a no nonsense role, stopping all attacks with excellently timed challenges and sliding through balls between defenders for Dave to run on to. While Adam Steward on the right attacked and crossed accurately and dangerously.

Ben Dutton had an industrious and effective game putting in very dangerous free kicks for Sean Webber to hold up well, turn his defenders or spread the play sensibly wide for piercing crosses to unnerve the Bexley defence. At the back Jack Hopper had a calm and assured game with excellent headers to clear our lines, and Luke Dunne was commanding his space and looked comfortable both on and off the ball. I played a defensive position to allow Ben or Luke forage (or forge) forward and the whole team was balanced to perfection with Ivor in goal, he could easily balance a whole team on a see-saw apparently!

Simon Davies took the flag, but when he came on added a good target man to the proceedings as the Bexley defence grew more weary. So all in all a safe and sensible 90 minutes. Nothing flash, good defending typified by a goal line clearance early in the half by Paul Parsons when we were still only 1-0 up, and then all chances taken with Dave gambling on a couple of through balls, Josh scoring with precision, not pace, and in between Ben Dutton putting in an excellent free kick that resulted in an own goal. We definitely were not ecstatic after the game, but it was never a 100 – 1 shot us winning, it was always odds on once Josh (MOM) had scored.