Match Report

After the disappointment of last weeks defeat in extra time to Otford, we returned to league action at a cold and windy New Eltham. We were again without Pragnell who was skiing and Evans who was err ... walking somewhere in Northumberland !! The gaffer was also off on hols which meant the return of the dynamic management duo of Tanton and Nott. We lined up as follows:

Edwards (GK)
Morton (LB)
Fullone (CB)
Simmons (CB) (Captain)
Tapsfield (RB)
Piper (RM)
Lenton (CM)
Charlton (CM)
Head (LM)
Tanton (CF)
Nethercot (CF)

Subs:
Carpenter
Nott
The pitch was bobbly and coupled with the windy conditions it made it incredibly hard to play any decent football. As a result a game of kick and rush ensued and it's fair to say it was probably a pretty awful game to watch, not that there were many spectators! We took the lead after about half an hour when Russ shrugged off one challenge before producing a delightful piece of skill to Maradona moonwalk past another defender and drive the ball low into the bottom corner, 1-0. Soon after we made it 2-0, Tanton was fouled in the box and Charlton dispatched the penalty into the bottom corner. We came in at half time comfortable, with the only negative losing Lenton to injury who was replaced by Carpenter.

We talked about keeping it tight in the second half and not giving away any stupid goals, after all the last time Daragh and Tant managed the team we threw away a 3-0 lead and lost 4-3! So it can't have been easy on Daragh watching from the sides when Dresdner got an early goal back to make it 2-1. Not a lot any of us could do as a free kick was headed into the net by one of their many giants! However this time we didn't panic and replied instantly threw the goal machine Fullone, who fired in an excellent half volley from the edge of the box, which found the bottom corner.

The remainder of the game was played out without any major incidents, although Mark made one excellent save turning a cross come shot onto the post and their striker was unlucky with a header that came back off the bar. At the other end Aaron was unlucky to be given offside when in his own half and clean through on goal, although by his own admission he would probably have missed anyway!

The final whistle was welcomed by both sides who were just happy to have got the game over with, it was not the most enjoyable to have played in! This does however make it a rather satisfying 3 points as we did not play well but still dug in for a good result, a sign of a good team they say!

Man Of The Match: Gio Fullone