Match Reports
14/01/06
Worthing 3s 1-3 Men's 4th XI
Brighton 4s 3 - Worthing 3s 1
Scorers : Scopes, Jameson, Own goal !
After a lengthy Christmas, layoff the Super 4s resumed their season knowing that this half would be much much harder. Skipper Thompo, although missing a few regulars from the squad, was able to welcome back Wappy after a lengthy lay off. After a particularly straightforward journey to Worthing, the team arrived in good time for a lengthy warm up and a mouth watering feast of Worthing 5s vs M&B 3s as the warm up game which finished 10-1, I think ! Hehir and Irish Al (umpiring due to a serious wrist injury) were particularly entertained and waxed lyrically for several minutes about how much more entertaining that game was compared with Brighton vs Coventry in the FA Cup the previous week, once the rest of the team returned from the Wappy warm-up (WWU) ! And you weren’t £25 lighter !!
Worthing started in a particularly determined mood, summed up by the left winger, “lets face it being bottom with one point has focused our minds !” and had the better of the early exchanges. In fact from their first short corner the ball was struck firmly to keeper Hehirs right, with no sign of movement from the keeper, into the goal. Thompo looked disheartened and was about to berate Hehir when Hehir smiled smuggly and commented that the ball was struck outside the ‘D’. Brighton seemed to wake up a little at this point and Wappy and Scopes took charge in midfield instigating several flowing moves. Langston at the back looked calm and distributed the ball with precision.
Twenty minutes into the match, skipper Thompo was starting to worry whether this was going to follow the same plot as the Seagulls giant killing win over the mighty Leeds at the Withdean. Happily, his fears were soon , dispelled when after sustained pressure Scopes finished off a fluid move instigated by Wappy. Brighton kept pushing and started to create chances at will, but a determined Worthing defence kept the Brighton forwards at bay.
Thompo rallied the troops at half time stressing the urgency of raising the tempo, although it was hard for the team to concentrate with DD administering physio to Wappy in the manner of a ‘low-budget porn movie’. The team prayed that there wasn’t a sequel !
With Worthing tiring after a spirited 1st half, Brighton took control and created several clear chances after flowing moves. However the forwards finishing left something to be desired and the rest of the team realised that they maybe missing Pilsbury after all ! (“Pilsbury, didn’t you say something about scoring 10 goals in the 2nd half of the season ? - Ed.) Comedy moments don’t come much better than Thompo’s airshot last season at Crowborough, although Wappy’s “airpush” certainly beat it hands down, and who’d have thought it from such a technically proficient player, an accolade that can hardly be levelled at Thompo ! As Irish Al umpiring put it, “At least if you are swinging the stick you have some excuse as the stick is travelling a fair distance, but with a push the stick hardly moves at all !” Did Wappy win the teapot for this ….. read on and wait and see !
Brighton started to look winners once the second goal when in little Laurie Jameson, came screaming in from left back to finish at the far post ! He’d even started his celebrating before the ball had gone in such was the confidence of the young lad. The team celebrated “Cello” style although this was lost on the majority of the team ! Brighton kept pressing and a golden opportunity in front of an open net was fluffed by Tom Holt, still respite for Worthing was short lived as dead-eye Wappy found himself in the D, yards away from the net. Once technically proficient Wappy managed to push his shot wide in a “Geoff Thomas stylee” only to see some great big oppo size 12 astro kick it into the net. Wappy celebrated the goal as his but the rest of the team remained unconvinced.
This should have been the signal for the floodgates to open but a determined Worthing team didn’t give up and pounced on a deflection off Thompo’s stick that came down with ice on it !! Whilst the defence watched the ball landed and discussed what to do next, a Worthing forward pounced to push the ball past a dispairing Hehir. With their tails up, Worthing were lucky not to bag a second, when slack marking, caused by the formation of which Wappy is most definitely not a fan, allowed the big Worthing midfielder to receive the ball unmarked at the 25. Hehir started to advance to cut down the angle, but then abruptly stopped to become a ‘pretend statue’ a cunning ploy to put the Worthing player off ! Unfortunately the Worthing player rounded a static Hehir, only to see his well struck shot hit the post after a defender (who shall remain nameless) did enough to put him off.
With little more of incident further happening, the game finished 3-1 to Brighton. The team strolled back to a slap up team at the Worthing club house, although Cunningham (I don’t do green !) exhaused by his efforts had to drive the short distance.
Awards:
Teapot - Hehir, for his statue impression.
Handbag - Russell, tantrum with Tom L.
Dancin’ Homer - Wappy for his porn style physio.
Team : Hehir, Langston, Jameson, Thomson, Smales, Delois, Burrett, Holt, Cunningham, Murphy, Doyne-Ditmus, Scopes