Match Reports
25/11/06
Lewes 4th Xi 1-2 Men's 4th XI
Fortune favours fighting fours who finally fox foes for form finding victory.
Sleaze double strike helps Brighton 4s win at last after a disappointing run of results and close shaves where luck has not rolled their way.
They welcomed some more new faces with Monsieur Delea and Don “Legs of Granite” upping the average age a little for the short hop up the A27 to Lewes.
Clock winner skipper Andy C gave another rousing team talk and Brighton came out fighting and dominated the first half with a great display of passing and moving hockey. Don linked up well with young Josh on the right wing and Davros and Delea with speed and skill up front caused the ageing Lewes defence no end of trouble.
Brighton were ensconced in the Lewes half and forced a series of short corners. Don struck the post with one effort before Sleaze was able to finish off a goal mouth scramble to give Brighton the lead.
Lewes fought back and forced some short corners of their own but were unable to convert. Towards the end of the half, however, Lewes against the run of play equalised as their titchy young, but very tricky, winger ghosted into the D unmarked (quelle surprise) and got the decisive touch to work the ball past Brooksy.
Heads were still up at half time and Brighton knew they were the better side and had the game for the winning. Lewes made a better fist of the second half and put Brighton under pressure. Thompo did well to silence Bill Clinton on the left wing but poor Sheff had the short straw and was given a torrid time by the aformentioned nippy winger.
Brighton re-took the lead mid way through the second half again from a slick short corner routine that was bravely finished with a neat touch by Sleaze at the post. Pilsbury has some competition for the highest scorer title at last.
Lewes fought hard and forced 13 short corners but failed to convert any of them due to some diligent work from runners Sheff and Wappy. Thanks to the pressure there was still time for the Brighton defence to make things as hard as possible for themselves, why win comfortably when you can make it heart judderingly exciting!?
The pressure tolled on Ready who was felled like a giant Redwood by the pesky nifty winger. The poor lad, only coming up level with the top of Ready’s shin pad, was working hard down the byline when confronted by high tower Ready. Like a little dog the lad had no concept of the size difference and tried to push through Ready only for him to fall in slow motion legs waving in the air, the young un with momentum fell elbow first into what can only be described as Ready’s nuts, met with the usual “oooooooo!” sound that you’d expect and laughter from his caring team mates. Classic. The young lad, to his credit, even helped Ready up.
Brighton held out and won a deserved victory. All that was left was for the usual kangaroo court to stitch up Thompo with the tea pot. Wappy won the handbag for more defence berating, which continued in the bar, and Ready won the dancing homer for his part in the David v Goliath’s gonads battle.
Thanks to Swampy for umpiring in the pouring rain, although everyone said that he would’ve loved it.