Match Reports
20/10/06
East Grinstead 2-1 Men's 4th XI
After last week's 4 in 20 excitement, it was back to the astro with a splash for the 'super' 4s this week. Captian Cunningham (CC) rung the changes following a fluid Friday night selection process but the 4s were in purposeful frame of mind and readied for action by highly praised dynamic warm up routine. Events get a bit sketchy after that as I don't know who everybody is and have a puzzlingly porous mind for remembering what happened during games.
Anyway as I recall, the 4s started quite well, the defence looked solid aided by some excellent ordering about from Alex (while he was on the pitch) and an attitude that had Brighton getting stuck in from the off. In attack, the 4s were making progess down the left and through the middle but despite some useful posession up to the 'D', EG's goal was not really threatened. A fairly uneventful but well contested stalemate ensued for the first 25 minutes. Towards the end of the half however, Brighton started to lose a little confidence and give away posession too easily inviting pressure. In attack, EG were getting too much time and space in the middle, although the solid defence prevented EG from creating chances in open play, the short corner count began to mount.
Half-time and a call for more control, CC removed himself as a chastisement for first half failures on the right (which didn't really get going all game as an attacking threat) and Pilsbury dropped into midfield. While bolstering the defence further, this did reduce the offensive outlets and like the end of the first half Brighton were struggling to put together coherent attacks. The effort was there and the passes were short, only often not to a Brighton stick. Brighton were now also defending the end with the umpire with whom they did agree on a lot of things. As decisions went against them the likelyhood of a card being produced rose and it was Alex who took a yellow after a foul and some words in the 'D'. Down to 10 and finding escape from the Brighton half more difficult, EG captialised by winning a succession of short corners, some more desvered than others. EG scored their first from a scramble after a botched routine and a few minutes later (mid half) they scored their second with a well executed high flick.
CC had now returned to centre midfield from self imposed exile and Jamie offered some choice words to motivate the team from the push back. With added drive in the middle from CC and Pilsbury, Brighton started their best spell of the game, winning 50-50s and pressing EG into increasingly risky passes. Half chances were created after more interplay down the left and through the middle, one of the best opportunites ended on goal machine Pilsbury stick only problem was that it was his reverse stick and this wasn't 4 in 20 week. Finally, the pressure paid off after a counter attack left Duncan at the top of the 'D' to surprise the keeper with 'bobbler' that crept (literally) into the corner of the goal. It was to be a consolation as only and a minute later it was the final whistle and 2-1 to EG.
Awards this week:
Teapot - Thompo (also winner of the best aerial straight from a free hit award)
Handbag - Alex for his first yellow in 11 years
Clock - Tom late for some reason - don't know if it was good one
Dancing Homer - Pilsbury - for his reverse stick attempt or having too much fun sliding about in the water park or hitting the ball onto his own feet