Match Report

Guild Progress in Shield

The Guild squad was stretched again yesterday with injuries to Wray and Kendall and the unavailability of Cooke and Parmenter. Elliott was 50/50 and took to the bench with Stevens and keeper Mumford, which handed the 17-year-old Hawkes his first opportunity of the competitive season.

It was Bexleians who started the brighter side with two opportunities in the first ten minutes. In as early as the second minute a ball across the box was blazed over the bar and a great instinctive save from Hawkes kept the score scoreless.

With ten minutes gone, the Guild started to get a grip on the game and dominated proceedings for the next 30 minutes, scoring three quick goals in succession. The first was converted by Williams J at the far post to open his account for the season, using what seems to be around four parts of his body to help the ball over the line after a great ball across by Hughes.

The second goal was added by Hughes himself who now takes his tally to 7 goals in 9 games after a ball into the box was emphatically converted by the in-form striker. Williams L added a third to further his haul to 7 goals in 7 games, when a fantastic cross field ball again by Hughes found Williams L who cut inside and chipped the keeper into the top left hand corner. Both goals came in similar circumstances and were well worked team goals.

It looked as though the Guild were going to take a convincing lead into the break but a defensive error on the halfway line meant that Meekings turned away and left Guild defenders in his wake, crossing the ball for Washbrook to convert from a few yards out. The goal gave the Bex the lift they were looking for and sent them into the break with some hope.

At the half, we knew the game was in our hands and a tight defensive performance would see us into the next round against a rampant Fleetdown side that eased aside Bexley Borough 6-1.

Elliott replaced the injured Warren at the half.

The second half was not a great spectacle to be fair and the Guild done enough and had a enough chances to put the game beyond reach and missed around four good chances to put the fixture to bed. The Guild changed formation in the last 15 minutes to sit more defensively, but Hawkes in the Guild goal was rarely troubled. Stevens replaced Hughes on 80 mins.

Old Bexleians never gave up at any point and refused to roll over and pushed hard right up until the final whistle. 3-1 it ended

Referee Barry Jeal has an excellent game in the middle of the park and was complimented by both sides on his ability to get around the park, talk to players, explain decisions and let play flow where possible.

Overall, it was a ground out performance and a couple of seasons ago could have been a fixture we could have drawn or even lost. However, we are a bigger, stronger squad nowadays and made out of sterner stuff. Winning is a good and contagious habit and the Guild go on to maintain their unbeaten run this season and still remain in four competitions.

We scored three good goals today which all involved some quick interplay and were all team efforts. Further goals should have been added in the second half; although Old Bex should be applauded for the amount of effort they put into the fixture.

Man of the Match was a tie between ‘Veteran’ Williams L and Hughes. Both strikers worked hard in both directions and put the Old Bex back line under pressure throughout the game. Well done to you both, keep up your fantastic start to the season.

Next week we are away in Sittingbourne in the KICS to play Woodstock Park, due to the journey and the fact that it is a cup game, the meet will be slightly earlier than usual at 11.45am. The KICS is a prestigious cup to win and the carrot at the end of the stick is that we get to test ourselves against higher league opposition should we overcome Woodstock Park.

Let’s keep this momentum and spirit going boys, work on a few things in training and put them into practice on Saturday. It’s a great start to the season!

Teams:

Farnborough: 1. Hawkes; 2. Warren; 3. Davis; 4. Judge©; 5. Hughes; 6. Abbott ; 7. Williams J ; 8. Travers; 9. Williams L ; 10. Perkins; 11.Cleaver
Subs: 13. Elliott for 2. Warren; 12. Stevens for 5. Hughes
Subs Not Used: 14. Mumford; 15. Mace

Old Bexleians: 1. Dill; 2. Phillips; 3. Dixon; 4. Brooks; 5. Catchpole; 6. Groves; 7. Ramos; 8. Jarvis; 9. Meeking; 10. Washbrook; 11. Tye
Subs: 12. Nibbo; 14. Washbrook J; 15. Turner.

Referee: Mr. B. Jeal