Match Reports
29/03/08
Oxford Hawks 2-2 Men's 1st XI
No matter how many times you watch The Great Escape, Steve McQueen can never quite make that last jump over the fence for his freedom. However, after a similar long struggle Brighton & Hove managed to make that final leap as a
2-2 draw with Oxford Hawks was enough to complete their own escape and avoid relegation from South Premier Division One.
After 13 games of the season Brighton were at their lowest ebb, having picked up just 11 points and looking favourites for relegation alongside local rivals Lewes. However, an impressive run that saw them pick up 15 points in the next 8 games meant that Brighton went into the final game of the season at home against Oxford Hawks knowing that a win would see them secure 6th spot in the league. However, with the league so tight a defeat could have left them languishing third from bottom and facing the dreaded drop. Oxford Hawks occupied that 10th spot and although a point for Brighton would mean that Hawks would remain below them, there was always the possibility the fourth from bottom would also go down so it was clear that both teams would be going for the win.
Brighton kept the same players that narrowly lost to Staines and added Matt McNeill to the squad. The pre-match tension was palpable and even Gareth Lendrum admitted he was nervous, although that may have been to do with the big announcement he was to make at the end of the game. Kevin Browne looked the most nervous man in the team, although that was due to the upcoming Celine Dion concert that he still has four tickets for. For once Sam Forster did not look hung over and despite looking like he still had not washed his hair, he sported a hair band. This was a dangerous move, as Tom Langston admitted that this feminine touch made him look at Forster in a different light. Luke Williams was still out injured but he had now progressed to wearing a tracksuit to games, suggesting that he may soon be making a comeback. Throughout the season Williams' only role has been to talk to The Argus on a Monday morning, but after the Staines game he could not even manage that when he failed to answer his phone. This left The Argus reporter to talk to goalkeeper Neil Burlinson which is always a dangerous situation due to his occasional differing views to the rest of the team. However, to the relief of everybody this time he remained positive and although everyone was nervous, there was a confidence within the camp.
The line-up was kept secret so Brighton went out to warm-up with some players not sure where, or if, they would be starting. However, towards the end of the warm-up master tactician Bram van Asselt strolled onto the pitch and gathered his troops around to announce that the defence and midfield would remain the same but there would be changes up-front. van Asselt took Ben Butlin's comparison to Peter Crouch at face value and put him on the bench, opting to start Robbie Guthrie at left wing and McNeill on the right in place of Forster; Andrew Acott starting at centre forward. Just before the game started, Williams showed that it was worthwhile for him to put on his tracksuit as he collected the balls in at record pace.
When the game got underway both sides played some nice hockey. Brighton, with the exception of Hugh Salter, moved the ball around with confidence whilst when Oxford's forwards got the ball they were happy to run at the home defence. Salter has his critics and although his distribution is rightly always questioned, he had an excellent first half and made a number of outstanding tactics. Brighton had the first couple of chances but Lendrum's short corner strikes were saved by the keeper and when Hawks responded, Burlinson made a couple of sharp saves. However, Brighton briefly lost concentration and they let the Hawks right wing run too far with the ball and his shot found it's way in when Burlinson was perhaps too close to his near post. Oxford were now buoyant and shortly afterwards another run into the D was halted by the tackle of the season from Forster.
This season Forster has felt frustrated at his lack of opportunities in defence when last year he had an impressive season at right back and despite playing at right-wing, he charged back into the D. No doubt buoyed by some illegal substance, he launched himself through the air with a flying dive and wound up his stick. If he missed the ball, it would not only have been a stroke but he would have been having a spell on the sidelines at the umpire's pleasure. Thankfully, despite seeing three balls most games, he aimed for the middle one and made contact to snuff out that attack.
Brighton were creating lots of chances but as has become a familiar story this season, they were often squandered. Forster missed a couple and screamed out loud, whilst the chance of the half fell to Guthrie. The ball to the back post may have been going in but Guthrie would at least tap the ball into the empty net. However, he decided to stop the ball first and then an eternity passed; enough time for Richard Baker to grow another grey hair and Burlinson to lose another hair. Somehow he then managed to miss the target and the team were in shock. Perhaps Guthrie had other things on his mind, not only surprised that he had started but scared that he bared a striking resemblance to Thomas Beatie, the transgender man who claims to be pregnant.
Half-time came with Brighton trailing 1-0 but they had finished the half with the good news that Langston had been forced off with a hand injury, Butlin now playing at left-back to continue his round trip of all the positions in the team. van Asselt imparted some wise words on the team and had suggested to the team to try a different short corner routine as the goalkeeper was charging out a long way to smother Lendrum's thunderbolts.
Therefore, when the first short corner was awarded the defensive players watched expectantly, waiting to see the net ripple from Browne's flick.
However, it didn't quite go to plan as after stopping the ball, Browne looked at his fellow Zimbabwean Lendrum as they seemingly danced around the ball. Perhaps they were puzzled by how they had both cast 1000 votes each in their country's election. Eventually they decided to do something and the ball found its way to Andrew Acott in front of the keeper who turned smartly before firing the ball into the net to draw Brighton level. Acott had looked quiet in the first half but with brother Simon replacing Butlin at left back and the ginger count in the team back to three, he now looked a different player. With the home side in the ascendancy, Acott got on the end of a cross to deflect the ball home and give Brighton the lead to the delight of their management and supporters. The crowd were electric and no doubt the locals enjoyed their taste of a large crowd before the football stadium is built, with the mass throng of some 30 people no doubt affecting the "Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty". At the next short corner, Brighton tried their alternative routine and Browne's lob went over the keeper but as usual, sailed over the bar. The chances came and went.
McNeill found himself free at the top of the D but hit his shot along the deck into the prostrate keeper, whilst Forster took a different approach and went for height, but sadly his reverse stick effort only threatened the local bird population. The keeper made some more saves and Brighton missed some more chances. Hawks were also creating their own opportunities and after Brighton's profligacy it was no surprise when at a short corner, an impressive drag-flick sailed into the goal.
2-2 and with both teams going all out for the win, the game was very open.
A point for Brighton would be enough to finish at least fourth from bottom and probably avoid the drop, but it would mean waiting to see how results went in other divisions and play-offs, a wait Brighton did not want. Some players and coaching staff did not realise a point would probably be enough despite the explanation in previous match reports and Williams' Argus interviews, but few could blame the team for failing to read to the end of the elongated match reports.
Whatever, the last 10 minutes were exciting as both teams pressed and Hawks did a "Guthrie" and missed an open goal. Hawks then launched a quick counter attack and despite their centre forward being unmarked at the top of the D, they failed to make the simple pass and the ball went into the far corner. Baker ran quickly to retrieve the ball and threw it to Salter at the top of the D. Despite Burlinson shouting at Salter to wait until Baker had got back, Salter's hearing is starting to go and Salter helpfully hit it straight at Oxford's right-wing. The same centre forward was again waiting unmarked at the top of the D, but once again the pass missed and the ball went out to the other corner. Baker was now running over to the other corner to get the ball, perhaps showing van Asselt that he could play up-front the way he makes those cross-pitch runs. When Baker got it, he gave the ball to Browne who proceeded to do a "Salter" and give the opposition the ball and a short corner was awarded. With just seconds on the clock, the first was flicked into Browne but from the retake, Burlinson made the save and Brighton launched a quick counter attack. The ball was moved quickly and it was played to the far post where McNeill followed Guthrie's and Forster's lead by missing an open goal, van Asselt claiming he could have blown the ball in.
The final whistle went and both sides were disappointed as there had been chances for both teams to have scored so many more and a draw meant both
teams had to wait to hear other results. When news came through that
Purley had lost to Spencer, Brighton were guaranteed safety and with Maidstone only drawing with Richmond, Brighton finished in a respectable 7th place with 27 points, one more point than last year when they also finished in 7th spot. Interestingly, they let in the same number of goals, 54, as last term but tellingly scored 17 less. To the coaching staff's credit, over the second half of the season Brighton had created more chances than they did in the same period last year and one can only imagine how many more they may have scored with a Craig Carolan or Sam Rose type figure up-front.
Defensively, Brighton could be pleased as they kept four clean sheets and 16 of those goals came in two games against Staines and Fareham, due to tactics and Langston respectively. Interestingly, seven out of their eleven defeats were lost by just one goal.
After the game the team had a celebration in the changing room before back at the clubhouse Lendrum made the big announcement that his wife was pregnant. No doubt the conception was during the week of the Lewes game as at that time he seemed to score with every touch. Russell Perkins may still be desperate to get a text message off one of his team mates, but the Adonis of the team wore his grey v-neck sweater with a style that had the women of the club purring after him. Perkins was last seen heading into the shops to buy a gold medallion to sit on his mountain of chest hair. The ladies' had their Sussex Plate shield from last year with them and it showed that contrary to popular opinion Browne's coaching was not a complete failure.
Congratulations to the ladies for winning their league last year and it showed that they were right to get rid of Browne and his selection policy of picking single women who would go out with him. Browne still explored the club for women and like a kid in the school playground, asked John Edwards to act as his go-between with an attractive lady at the bar. Edwards got some positive feedback, although most of the team felt that Perkins was still every ladies' desire. It was no surprise when Baker, fresh from the revelation that his last teacher girlfriend was caught by her students in a compromising position with him, wanted to take Perkins with him on a night out to attract the women.
Throughout the season Brighton have collected a hefty fines' kitty and the team discussed what they could do. There were plenty of suggestions but none more strange than Butlin's suggestion of orienteering. It seems that he enjoys this activity, although his inability to find the goal when playing up-front would suggest a lack of directional sense. What was even stranger was Salter rejecting the idea as Salter wanders around the pitch on a Saturday and one imagines he likes to meander across the Downs on a Sunday afternoon, in true "Last of the Summer Wine" style. Butlin also suggested paintballing, and the way Brighton aim for the target at least there would not be any injuries due to getting hit.
Overall Brighton could be happy with their 7th spot and can look forward to playing another season in South Premier Division One when if they can continue the progress shown towards the end of this term, they can look to gradually move up the league. Before that they have a Sussex Cup semi-final against Lewes on the 13h April, with the game having been moved back a week much to the annoyance of Brighton who will be missing several players that had booked their holidays to avoid missing the original date.
Before the semi-final, there are lots of questions to be answered. Just how does Perkins attract so many women? Did John Edwards get the phone number for Browne? Is Forster serious when he claims it is his baby? Will the end of season report for the club dinner really be 100 pages in length? Will Butlin ever find his way around? Will Burlinson retire? How much running will Simon Turner do against Lewes before the London Marathon the next day?
If Brighton pick any of the 2's, will they ever find their way to a pitch on time? Were Burlinson, Forster and Langston only picked to provide light relief in the team? Will Salter admit he is ginger before the season ends?
Those are questions for another day. As Kool and The Gang would say, let's all celebrate and have a good time as Brighton are staying up.