Match Reports
26/11/05
Middleton & Bognor 2 4-1 Men's 6th XI
The Mighty 6's faced a tough fixture away at league leaders Bognor, made tougher after losing the core of the defence in the shape of Ed, Kumar and the skipper Will.
The match started with the home side pressurising the makeshift Brighton back 4, but 'Sam' full back combination of Williams and Parkin held firm in the opening exchanges and Howie led the forward line to good effect to keep Brighton in the hunt.
Despite these good individual performances, Brighton fell behind after a goal mouth scramble left Wayne in goal with no chance and Bognor took a 1-0 lead. This prompted a Brighton fight back and period of midfield control as Dipak, Graeme and Josh asserted themselves. Brighton's best chance came when a Bognor defence kicked the ball on the goal line, yet the home umpire bizarrely gave a short corner.
Instead of going into the break level, the result was sealed when Brighton conceded a soft short corner to go 2-0 down.
The second half followed a predictable route, as Brighton pressed to get back into the game Bognor cut through an exposed defence on several occasions, looking more the likely to score. Despite this, Bognor had to rely on more exotic decision making from the home umpire to press home their advantage. An extremely harsh penalty stroke putting them 3-0 up, and the creation of a local rule giving M&B a short corner that a flustered and irritated Brighton defence failed to effectively clear.
So at the final whistle Bognor were 4-0 up, but there was the small matter of a Brighton short corner to complete. The whole team trotting forward for Hendo's feed. Howie controlling the ball and slipping the ball left. Its at this point where everyone stood still for a split second in time, the Bognor defence standing in awe as Martin fired an Exocet into the bottom corner for a well deserved consolation.
Staff at the Bognor Arena Leisure at now hosting tours where members of the public can go to see the actual dent in the backboard where Martin's ball struck. Close observers can actually see the word 'Slazenger' imprinted in the wood.
Ollie's Afro Watch: The 'Fro is now clearly getting heavy, slowing its owner down to the pace of a Veteran.