Match Reports
03/02/07
Sevenoaks 3's 3-1 Men's 3rd XI
Memo to self: never warm down with just the captain and vice captain for company after a game as this will result in being lumbered with doing the match report. All protestations went unheeded so here's what I remember of the game….
As this was an away game in Sevenoaks, the 3s had to field a patched up side with recruits from the 4s and Vets. Sevenoaks are also the league leaders but the 3s were in the midst of a winning streak (of 1) and therefore 'on a push'. After their dynamic warm up the call was to play hard for 70 minutes, disrupt Sevenoaks' structured passing game and stand up to their 'physical' approach.
The 3s started well with Dan Hacking quickly organising the defensive responsibilities and Sevenoaks were well contained. Brighton pressured for the first quarter, constructing attacks down the middle and right and hitting on the break down the left. A couple of short corners were earned but Brighton failed to take them convincingly. Sevenoaks eventually broke through the centre into the Brighton 'D' for the first time and worked the 3 on 3 well to fire a shot round the keeper, Liam cleared off the line but Sevenoaks were first to the rebound and made it 1-0 with a flick into the goal.
Brighton were not to be phased though, and restored their territorial and possession advantage but again failed to make the most of it before half time.
With Brighton rolling the subs the pattern of play became more disjointed and Sevenoaks evened up the balance of play. Brighton earned one or two more short corners and forced the keeper into a couple of smart saves before Sevenoaks again engineered another 3 on 3 attack and finished well to make it 2-0. Brighton had to chase the game now and the goal threat increased at both ends, soon after making it 2-0, Sevenoaks scored a third. The author was off the pitch at the time and didn't see it, Beglin reckons it must have been a fluky one (infact it was a bobbled shot from Woody a yard off the byline which bounced through Dan Hacking's legs and stick - somehow).
Any chance of a comeback was thwarted by some excellent saves from the Sevenoaks keeper, particularly in response to a few fierce Beglin strikes. Prucey was unlucky for advantage to run out just as he emerged with the ball 1 yard from goal after wading through 4 or 5 fouls (not for the first time!) to get there. All too late, Brighton got a consolation goal with Duncan deflecting a Lees cross inside the far post. The final whistle came a few minutes later, 3-1 to Sevenoaks.
Next weeks assignment, 2nd in the table Canterbury 4a.
DM