Match Reports
07/10/06
Mid Sussex 2's 0-1 Men's 4th XI
The 4’s started confidently by calmly passing the ball around engineering gaps in the Mid Sussex defence. For the first 20 minutes they had nearly all the possession with Mid Sussex seemingly prepared to sit back. Despite all this early ball time Brighton were finding it difficult to create any clear cut chances against a side sitting back intent on causing frustration.
Even at this early stage Brighton were becoming impatient in the wait for a goal which resulted in periods of sloppy play, during which Brighton appeared determined to make a proper game out of it by giving Mid Sussex the ball at every available opportunity. It was in this passage of play that Mid Sussex mustered their only shot of the half but failed to trouble Psycho’s goal.
As the half came to a close Brighton’s only clear chances were coming from the vast number of shorts being won. With Bondy and Andy C pulling the strings there were a couple of good routines creating space but still few meaningful shots to test the keeper.
At the beginning of the second half Mid Sussex had their best period of the game pushing Brighton onto the back foot and winning themselves couple of shorts and at one stage forcing Reedy into a goal line clearance. After this 10-minute spell normal service was resumed with Brighton almost permanently camped in the opponent's half but still struggling to break down a determined defence.
Finally about halfway through the second half the deadlock was broken. Tosh stumbled his way towards the circle and managed to prod a hopeful ball through to Andy C who lifted the ball into the net.
Brighton’s confidence grew with the goal and they began to attack the Mids defence with more ferocity. Tosh took this a bit further when his and a Mids player's stick got hooked, resulting in what appeared to be a javelin contest at Bondy’s head. Showing his true knowledge of the medical profession Tosh then proceeded in giving Bondy a good tap on the back of the head - just to check it hurt.
In the closing minutes of the game Brighton got their second head injury of the game and their third in three games. A shot came in from a 4’s short causing the keeper to kick the ball high, striking Sleeze just above the eye. From this the umpire felt that the only fair action was to award a 16?!?
The game finished 1-0. Although not the best scoreline the points are on the board (when fixtures live correct it) and the performance was a big improvement on last week's.
This week's awards:
Handbag Bondy for his strop with Tosh regarding the stick incident (save it for the opposition!)
Teapot Reedy for his total misjudgement of a pass and allowing it to roll tamely off the side.
Dancing Homer Dave Taylor for the blatant admission of being to knackered to do the cool down.
Clock Someone arrived too late to be mentioned?!?
CP