All the anticipation of our second game of the season soon slipped away by Wednesday morning, by Friday evening Pembury could well have been looking for a new 1st team manager. With a squad of over 35 players signed on this season for the 1st team by Saturday morning we had 12 players available, with the reserves having just the bare 11. There were some good reasons for players not being available; injuries, holidays, weddings and friendly cricket matches against their daddies!!! Although at least the chairman of Pembury FOOTBALL Club wasn’t involved in this!!
Due to the lack of players both reserve team manager Andy Whickiter and myself had to don the famous yellow jersey’s that have been worn previously by some of the best local wicket keepers, sorry goalkeepers. I pulled on the gloves even though I retired at the end of last year due to the fourth serious knee injury of my short footballing career, with my next operation scheduled for 3 weeks time the best preparation I could have had was to dive around on a football pitch. We started the game with the following team:-
M.Brown GK
L.Gunning LB
D.Hymers ( c ) CB
T Bowyer CB
M Wood RB
C Ells LM
B Leete CM
A Lindsey CM
B Brooker RM
J Gale CF
L Gent CF
Sub
G Hughes
With all the worry of trying to find players for the game I was shocked by the way we started the game, from kick off we came out flying and the opposition just could not cope with the pace at which we attacked. Ben Brooker, Chris Ells took the game to Woodstock down the flanks turning the full backs inside out. Jason Gale was proving to be our ‘Emile Heskey’ holding the ball up well and winning flick ons, with Liam Gent running off him. Barry Leete plying some excellent incisive through balls with Lindo winning the battle in midfield against Woodstock Parks Ogre of a centre midfielder. The defence holding strong and using the ball well, we created a few half chances, before some good work down the flank resulted in Ben Brooker heading the ball into the net from a six yards, something he must have learnt to do since our last game. While celebrating no one had noticed the linesman flag was raised, all though the goal wasn’t given (looked fine to me) we got on with the game in the right spirit and didn’t moan, which was good to see. Our reward cam soon after, a corner from the opposition was cleared brilliantly from Pembury’s handsome goalkeeper with a strong fist which resulted in the ball landing at Ben Brookers feet in the opposition’s half, while two of their defenders were sprawled out in our area after a collision with our “muscular” gk. Ben beet their covering defender for pace and played the ball into the penalty area for Jason Gale to score on his return for the Saturday side.
After this we kept up the pressure and hit the post with our next attack, Ben Brooker and the Liam gent both had shots blocked on the line which although unfortunate would come back to haunt us. With about ten minutes left in the half Woodstock Park started to push on but were restricted to long shots which were dealt with quite easily. The defence looked strong and we felt we would be able to see out the half and regroup. When after a dubious tackle by one of their players was let go by the referee, a ball was crossed into our penalty area where Lee Gunning and their winger challenged for it, although maybe a clumsy challenge from Lee, the referee pointed to the spot. After a couple of tackles that the opposition had got away with it was quite surprising that the referee gave a penalty for a shoulder to shoulder challenge, but their penalty taker stepped up and scored.
We went in at half time at 1-1 but more than dominated the game and could well have been a couple of goals up. We had a chat about keeping it simple and trying to break using our pace, and told the players not to get involved with the opposition who were trying to wind us up, one of them even had the nerve to call our goalkeeper fat!
The second half started sluggish from both teams, as the half wore on both teams had chances but once again as in the first match our lack of available players and fitness showed. The opposition scored three identical goals, all to the goalkeepers left after some tired defending. Overall our performance was an improvement from the first game, although the scoreline might not reflect this we are moving in the right direction. The commitment of the 12 guys who turned up on Saturday is what we are looking for from everyone. The 12 guys ran themselves into the ground on Saturday although I don’t wish to single anyone out the midfield pairing of Andy Lindsey and Barry Leete worked well, Jason Gale gave their back four no rest, the back four was tight and compact for the first hour until fitness resulted in some sloppy play. With more players to come back things are hopefully looking up, but the guys who were there on Saturday deserve to keep their shirts. Once again thanks to those who turned up this week you have restore my faith in people, those who didn’t a bit more commitment is required.
Our next game is at Home to Otford on Saturday 22nd - 2.45 KO