Match Reports
12/10/07
Season so far... 0-0 Men's 4th XI
The Brooksy/Sheff dynasty got off to a shaky start. First up were one of the leagues more consistent sides in recent years, Chichester 4s. We’d had some ding dong battles with them in previous years. This time, however, they had too much in most areas and with many of our players meeting for the first time, let alone playing together, we were no match for the organisation and forward firepower. Brooksy put up some spirited defence (and managed to use the very extremes of the D) but the law of averages won giving Chi a 4 - 0 win.
The following week was a trip to Crawley to play their 2s, always a tough ask. Sadly half the club’s players seemed to go AWOL at the same time and it was a much changed 4s side that set off for the journey into the badlands. Skipper Brooksy was also stolen by the 3s due a ‘keeper crisis. By all accounts a chaotic and dismal display followed. Sheff’s one word review cannot be reproduced on a family website, but suffice to say it rhymes with “pit”. Our flame haired friend was not best pleased. Some blame the genes but I say on this occasion his ire seemed justified. Basically Crawley stuffed us 5 - 0. Not a great start the new age, goals scored nil goals against nine.
It was with a little fear and trepidation that Hailsham 1s loomed large on the horizon, relegated from the league above last season and undefeated the 13th October didn’t look like it would be a day to remember. However, a week is a long time in sport. How quickly a team can go from zeroes to heroes, rock bottom one week getting stuffed out of sight and written off by all and sundry as perennial losers (no not the England rugby team) to rising the heights of sporting prowess the next. Despite the odds we managed to pull off a display of giants. Some tactical tweaks by “Castro” and the calming presence of Hacking at sweeper gave the team a great shape. Stevens and Harding caused all sorts of trouble up front while Tosh and Murphy bossed the midfield. After expecting the worst we were nil - nil at half time. The confidence was visibly growing in the young starlets Wells, Bucknall and Fowler as they found space and time to use their skills. A short corner finally reached the top of the D and Stevens did what comes naturally to him. 1 - 0! Murphy then popped up in the D unmarked to finish off a great move and Brighton were cruising 2 - 0. Cue skipper Brooks to totally stuff up a tame short corner strike to give an “exciting” final few minutes, highlighted by College, “going light headed”, the excitement of winning no doubt, it is intoxicating! It was also memorable for Murphy running the clock down in the corner in the style of Henry. Special mention should be made for midfield dynamo Ben Williams who had a stormer at left midfield, despite breathlessly begging me to put him up front at half time.
The future looks rosy, well for the next few days at least.