We’ve probably got one of the biggest squads but this season we’ve really been tested. Around this period we probably have 8/9 out through injury and the most important being our goalkeeper who missed the previous week. Once again we were forced to bring in a stand-in keeper with this game being Danny Bleach. Bleach broke his leg in the 2017 season via a tackle from a Bickley defender so despite him returning in goal we were happy to see him back on the pitch again representing us.
Lullingstone are a team that you cannot face without a strong squad. On the opening game of the season we faced them with one of the strongest benches we’d had in years and they still managed to grab a 3-3 draw of which they were initially 2-0 up which we reversed and went 3-2 up only for them to claw their way back in the final minutes. Having so many out injured meant that we had to make 2 emergency signings and field so many injured players to clear the deficit.
4This game was quite similar in how it started with Lullingstone grabbing 2 early goals through defensive errors of injured players of which then we knew it would be a massive uphill struggle. At full strength and fitness this game is always a war but with a squad so damaged our attempts proved at most times futile. Lullingstones gegenpress tactics had already force 2 errors and this continued throughout. We showed glimpse of our true quality but most of this came through our full backs or by new and dangerous signing Fabien O Brian who’s close control and dribbling nearly benefitted time and time again. In the 2nd half it did as we won a penalty through a clumsy tackle by a Lullingstone player gifting us a consolation goal.
All in all I was a pretty comfortable game for Lullingstone and 4-1 could have been 6-1 or even 6-3 had we been clinical but Lullingstone’s grievance towards a late penalty being awarded against them showed the true mentality of their players and why they have done so well continuously. Given this game we face them in a few weeks in the semi-final of the Paul Picard Cup, which we’re hoping to retain so we hope this game is different.
Goals: Adrian Browne (Penalty)
Assists: N/A
M.O.M – Fabian O Brien