Match Report

Down to a bare 11 this week. Well, it would have been bare if Piers hadn''t remembered the kit. Boom boom!!

Despite the result this performance was an improvement on the previous two, coming as it did against the best side we have played this (or last) season and who had pushed the Seconds all the way in a friendly a few weeks ago.

We knew we would be up against it, with players playing in some unfamiliar positions (Paul Burford up front...I ask you!!) but Mark Friend did well in goal and Ben Tomkins had an excellent debut at centre back, to name but two more. WBA - great name - were soon on the attack and we frustrated their quick forwards by good use of the offside trap. We looked lively when we had the chance to attack and took the lead after about 20 minutes when Burford collected a throw, turned on the touchline and sent a great through ball for Lee Brackell to take around the keeper. WBA were visibly shaken and we needed to hold on to the goal for longer than the 10 minutes we did, when a cross came in from their right and we didn''t take the chance to clear it. 1-1. Soon afterwards, WBA had a goal disallowed for offside but did eventually take the lead with a route 1 move.

We knew in the interval that we were well in the game, but some poor defending after the restart meant we were soon 4-1 down. Paul Burford pulled a goal back and we kept at it but WBA converted 3 more chances and we finished well beaten. Man of the match was shaded by an excellent goalscoring, never-say-die performance from Lee over Ben ''Rio'' Tomkins.

Hopefully we should be getting more personnel available soon, and we can settle into the season. A cup game this week against a team from the Fourth team''s league, AFC Bromley, so pride will be at stake!

Thanks to the oppo''s manager for doing a fine refereeing job in the absence of our appointed official, and to Alan Brazier for running the line.

To see some photo''s from the game, courtesy of a WBA supporter, click HERE!