Match Report

A new season, a new Fourth Team. With many of last year''s promising young players and experienced heads deciding to move on to pastures new the team looks vastly different from last year. Understandably so it’s been a slow start to the season for the team, with nothing to show for all the hard work and good football. The Fourth team have been lacking that bit of luck, which is compounded by the constant change of personnel week in week out.

With new editions to the team settling in, the Hillman boys up fronting, Jon and Jason Blay joining, young Tom Hughes who’s looking better each week (Tom, you should speak to Ivor about how to fill out a bit), and with the experience of Jez Allen between the sticks and Mark Edwards adding much needed calmness at the back.

So to Saturday, Mark was asked to write the report but after an early incident with our debutant Jason he could only manage a report on the first 20 minutes, hope you’re feeling better and the kids have filled you in on that missing half hour. It was business as usual for Des, sweating on players appearing before deciding his line up. The customary piece of paper went out to the pitch with the famed Fallon scribbled master plan for success, also known as confusion over formation and why players are out of position. With Jez in goal, back four of Ryan McGibbon, Mark Edwards, Jason Blay and Rob Weekly; Jon Blay, Dan Head, Djan Akwasi and Terry Edwards across the middle and the George and Liam up front the game started brightly, with the Guild looking comfortable on the ball and keeping South East at bay.

All players were doing their jobs well and we actually looked like a team, Jason contributed highly to this, adding a much needed voice at the back, talking the whole way through the game liked he’d been playing with us for years. After a few attacks by each team the ball went over the top of the defence and Mark was about to head clear until Jason came across to clear and caught Mark in the head with his Bruce Lee style clearance, Mark was concussed and had to leave the pitch. We played for about 5 minutes with 10 men and in that time South East had a deflected shot which bounced back off the woodwork directly to their striker to tuck home, 1-0 and the bad luck continued. With Sean Gregory coming on at right back to replace Mark and Ryan pushed into the middle, we kicked off.

We re-grouped as a team and kept pressing forward with all the midfield looking creative and threatening, and with the two young lads up front it was only a matter of time until it came and when it did Liam Hillman struck home into the far corner well. A few more chances came our way and we went into half time feeling hopeful. With some choice words from Des we went back out for the second half.

With South East now with the bit between their teeth they pressed hard trying to break FOBG down, the team stood firm and didn’t give much away and looked threatening when we broke forward. Tom came on and did well, proving that he can beat his man, but still needs to learn when to make that pass, but it will come. Djan, who was a constant threat all day, broke with the ball and spread the play wide to Jon who stepped back inside his man and curled one round the keeper into the far corner, a lovely finish and a good way to end the game. The whole team played well but most notably was Jason at the back, getting most of the votes.

They said, “we’ll do you next week”, if we play with the same commitment they may be disappointed again.