Match Report

Dave Thompson hat-trick fires Seconds from 0-3 down to first league win!

A bright and sunny start at Farnborough Saturday but this wasn’t the Copacabana….it was absolutely freezing and parts of the pitch had certainly had their collar felt by Jack Frost overnight. The game though did go ahead and 3 points were a must against a side 1 place above us and 4 points ahead.

The game must’ve been good to watch to be fair, errors from both sides meant it was scrappy, but there was always going to be goals. Having started pretty well, we soon found ourselves a goal down. The Metrogas right winger scoring with a cross-cum shot that looped over Georgie in goal and into the far corner. Unlucky for all concerned and really not what we needed in a such an important game early doors.

Things would get no better though, Giorgio Fullone who was otherwise superb throughout guilty of overplaying a bit and it was an expert finish from the forward, finding the bottom corner from 25 yards with the outside of the boot.

Half time and 2-0 down was not where we wanted to be, but to be fair we were still in the game, we had created a few chances and had an absolute stone wall penalty turned down when Russell Nethercot turned the centre half only to be checked, Kev Lott hit the eventual shot which the defender did well to block on the goal line. Vince and Dal both felt we could get back into it but would need to move the ball quicker and cut out some of the silly mistakes, a few of us, certainly me included hadn’t found our range at all.

Dave Thompson came on at the break for Adam Steward meaning Ben Slade moved to right midfield but it was soon further bad news when from a corner Metrogas extended their lead to make it 3-0. At this stage we looked dead and buried and it was testament to the character in the side that we never folded, quite the opposite; first some lovely one touch stuff from Kev Lott, Andy Jarvis and Russell Nethercot released Dave Thompson who found the net and then a monumental error from the keeper allowed Luke Hutchins to score from a Fullone through ball.

3-2 and it was game on. I'm not sure who assisted the leveller but it was a superb finish, again it was Dave Thompson, this time just passing the ball into the corner, cool as a cucumber. Metrogas then went down to 10 men, their centre back seeing his second booking of the day. Georgie Burkett was then too sent off, Chris Charlton replacing Luke Hutchins and going in goal. Russell Nethercot was then replaced by Michael Graham who was soon laying on the winner. A nice through ball for Dave Thompson again who on the stretch thumped it in the top corner, the keeper had absolutely no chance and it was 4-3 and the unlikeliest looking comeback going had been completed.

An incredible result which everyone worked hard for but to be fair Man of the Match was the superb Dave Thompson. To play 45 minutes and score a hat-trick is incredible at any level and to do it in a side that’s been struggling for goals and was 3 down before he got on says it all.

Quality.

Cup game next week, let's win that as well.