Having realistically given up on making up the goal difference shortfall to Gardeners, the sole aim on Sunday was to come away from Dormansland with the win. That we did comprehensively although we were helped by them only having ten and missing some key players.
In the end it was a very comfortable win but for a while, particularly the opening twenty minutes you could see, perhaps for the first time this season, a bit of tension around the camp as we took time to adapt to the bouncy surface. However, on nineteen minutes it seemed like the early nerves would be settled when we were awarded a penalty for hand ball. With the new penalty king, Mr Emblen, on the bench, we had to revert to the trusted ‘Six from Six Wardy’ as he reminded us. Unfortunately he is now renamed ‘Six from Seven’ as he carefully blasted the ball several goals wide. It didn’t take long, however, for the miss to be put behind us as on twenty four minutes some good hold and play and a break down the flank by Alun Evans was rewarded when his cross was met in the box by Danny McGahan who side footed home. This appeared to relieve the tension, but despite being encamped in the Dormansland half we couldn’t add to the advantage before the break.
At half time we discussed the need to remain patient and offer more movement, but above all else to just loosen up and relax. Our play was at times too fractious and anxious. To their credit the players did this and the second half display was far better as our passing and movement became much sharper. Four goals in the opening nineteen minutes resulted. Our second goal came from a cross shot by the returning Dave Burren on fifty minutes and the third on fifty three followed a surging run by Mark Lester whose eventual pull back from the bye line gave Danny a tap in for his second of the game. Burren scored his second and our fourth on fifty eight minutes when Evans played in Perko who again from the bye line crossed in for Dave to finish. The best finish of the day went to Alun Evans who scored the fifth in the sixty fourth minute. Played in by Gary Manser, he waited till the keeper advanced before despatching a curling lob over him into the top left hand corner. Numerous good chances followed thereafter as we dominated possession, however the final goal didn’t arrive until five minutes from time when a corner was cleared off the line straight to Perko who scored his first goal for the club from close in.
At the end of the day another three points on the board and now just three good results away from the title. We now have three cup finals to win in the remaining weeks. Arguably, the toughest comes this Sunday when we entertain the strong Tonbridge Invicta side who themselves are still in with a good shout. If we are at our best then we have every chance but we will need to step up another notch from this.
Team:
L.Baker
A.Lindsey
S.Hunter
N.Coxon
I.Ward
M.Millins
G.Manser
M.Lester
D.McGahan
A.Evans
D.Burren
Subs:
R.Perkins (for Lindsey)
L.Gent (for McGahan)
P.Bukovec (for Lester)
P.Emblen
M.Brown