Match Reports
03/12/05
Crowborough 2 1-5 Men's 5th XI
It was second against third at The Fortress as the V's played host to Crowborough.
In the first minute it was business as usual as the 5s conceded an early goal, with Glen saving from a short corner only to see the rebound popped over the line and once again shatter his dreams of a clean sheet. Afterthe slow start the rest of the half was relatively one way traffic, with the occasional Crowborough attack.
However hard they tried Brighton just could not score. They had numerous opportunities with Tom trying to score from some very acute angles. Bondy was orchestrating the midfield and won a string of short corners but Crowborough were able to keep these out. Even the hard working Dan could not get his reverse shot working.
This relentless attacking play continued through the four seasons that were presenting themselves during the game, the hail was particularly bad.
However the wind was keeping the ball out of Crowboroughs goal, just as it looked like the half was going to end 1-0, Bondy unlocked the visitors defence on 33 mins with a pinpoint pass to Tom who scored as he pushed the ball under the keeper. Halftime 1-1.
The second half started with Brighton on the attack, however it was once again Crowborough who had the first shot, with one of the youngsters flicking the ball straight at Glen who obviously had it covered!
Brighton then had a string of short corners but couldn't find the net. Brighton were playing some very positive attacking hockey, throughout the team however they just could not score. The goal finally came when Bondy diverted the ball over the line from a foot out following a shot from Dan which was just going wide.
The flood gates were open and the attacking hockey started to pay off, College passed to Ramzy who took the ball to the bye line and
pulled back for Bondy to score. College was then heard to shout "keep working, the cool weather keeps your energy levels high."
Five minutes later Bondy released Dan who tried a reverse hit, it beat the keeper but a defender stopped the ball on the line with his foot, P
Flick given. With last years record of 7 P flick misses, few people were volunteering, but cometh the hour cometh the man, Swampy stepped
forward with the need to erase last seasons flick misses and in true Stuart Pearce style he sent a low middling shot under the keeper 4-1.
The majority of the Brighton team continued to work hard however at this point in the game Bondy decided to have a 5 min break on the sidelines......did anyone notice ?! Bondy then returned to the pitch and picked out Dan to score on his reverse side to complete the scoring, 5-1.
A half with a clean sheet, can Glen go one further next week???
An ale or two then followed in the Clubhouse with Bondy leading the preceedings......although there was no sign of the promised jug from the
skipper, perhaps next week ?!
Team: Beale, Ray, Allum, Carter, Sale, Omran, Bondy, Wells, Bird, Benson, Robertson.
Scorers: Robertson, Bondy (2), Benson, Allum.