Match Reports
21/01/06
Burnt Ash 2's 2-3 Men's 3rd XI
Brighton 3’s continue their Jekyll and Hyde approach to the season but this time squeezing both into one game!!
Buoyed by a bruising victory against Sutton Valence last week Brighton 3’s travelled to take on Burnt Ash equal on points in the table, with Brighton behind on goal difference.
With a number of key men missing a couple of the 4’s recent star performers were given a chance of shining for the mighty 3’s, with the two Toms (Scopes and Mooney) given the nod and both deserving of special mention for good performances, Thompo and Wappy must be rearing them well.
First Dr Jekyll, Brighton started brightly and were largely untroubled in the first half. Davros opened the scoring with a stunning strike from the top of the D (his words - Ed) into the bottom corner with the ‘keeper stranded, after good work from Scopes. Scopes was instrumental again as he put Davros in to nut-meg the ‘keeper leaving the way clear for Prucey to coolly slot the ball home. Brighton were briefly down to ten men after the Gary Lineker of hockey, Riggers, received his first ever yellow card for raising his stick above his head, school boy error!!! Begs, however, increased the lead to an insurmountable 3-0 after his persistence won out in a goal mouth scramble. Brighton continued to dominate with Prucey and Dave Delea controlling the middle of the pitch showing some trademark silky-smooth skills and Mooney artfully organizing the back four with a commanding display of defence work.
Now for the bad Mr Hyde! As with last week the half team talk went well but it was different 11 players who walked out for the second half than went in at the end of the first.
Burnt Ash realising they were up against it went hell for leather to get back in the game and put Brighton under a great deal of pressure. They were rewarded when a flicked short corner brought them to 1-3. The pressure mounted and cracks were beginning to show in the wall of defence that debutant Mooney had put up in the first half and he was yellow carded for
obstruction. The irrepressible Delea dropped back to help out in defence but Burnt Ash would not rest and a scrambled goal brought them to within one and they could smell a dramatic equaliser. They forced short corner after short corner and luckily a mixture of their ineffectiveness and some resolute defending managed to keep Brighton in front.
The victory took Brighton up to 4th in the table and extended their unbeaten run to 4 and with three wins on the bounce (their best so far this season, I think). With 2nd place Canterbury 4a’s only 2 points ahead and in their sights next weekend the march is definitely on, but only if they can banish Mr Hyde…..
Goal scorers: Davros, Prucey, Begs.
DB