Welcome to the Official Site of
Home | About Us | History | Honours | Tables | Fixtures and Results | Over the bar
Weather | Fantasy League | Find Us | Profiles | Past Seasons | Diary of Events
100 Club Membership Details | 100 Club Benefits |
Pembury 2 v 2 Swan
After all the trials and tribulations of putting a side together, the 90 minutes on Sunday was really enjoyable with all eleven putting in a performance of good character and ability which they should all be really pleased with.
You wouldn’t have thought that we were the makeshift side in the opening half. We were well organised and hard working both on and off the ball. Swan probably had the greater possession but we were the more effective and dangerous and Danny McGahan was a real threat down our left hand side. Danny had already hit the bar and had several near misses when we eventually took the lead midway through the half. Danny again got free and when his shot was parried and Nick was there to side foot the rebound home.
The remainder of the half was fairly even although I can’t recall Alun in goal having a real shot to save as the defence well marshalled by Galey and Gunny were able to soak up any inroads that Swan sought to make. This was probably the best Swan side that we have faced in recent years but they still appear to suffer from the same problem of playing neat pretty football without having a cutting edge and whilst they move the ball about well an experienced defence is able to organise themselves to defend against them and this we did in the first half.
At half time the players were rightly congratulated for their effort but were also reminded they needed to continue with it. Keeping the ball and then breaking incisively is key to beating Swan and we spoke about how we should continue to retain shape, pass well and seek to utilise Danny as often as possible out wide. Unfortunately we started the half slowly and were, as a consequence, on the back foot for much of it.
As the half wore on Swan switched their formation and began to become more of threat upfront as their midfield players began to break through. The turning point of the match came with twenty minutes remaining when the ball found Danny in their box and looking certain to score from six yards. Somehow though as he was about to fire home a last ditch effort by a defender blocked the ball to divert it wide.
Almost immediately Swan fortuitously equalised when a clearance was blocked in midfield and ended up clearing our defence, as it pushed up, and leaving a Swan midfielder to run through unchallenged and lob Alun. Shortly after Swan scored their second when a midfield played ran through without being challenged to give them the lead.
We appeared deflated for the next few minutes having held out for so long but in fairness we hadn’t really started the half or been a threat ourselves. Eventually though with fifteen minutes remaining we started playing as we had done in the first half and got some momentum going. Despite this the luck wasn’t going our way and chances went begging either because we didn’t quite hit the target, they were saved, cleared off the line or ruled out by a questionable offside.
Eventually though with only a few minutes remaining we got the equaliser when Danny was given room to attack the box and fired home to the keepers right.
It was just reward for a good performance. Despite some retirements this squad remains decent, all that is lacking is a commitment to availability. If this can be solved then there is still the opportunity to have an enjoyable year although without it it will be tough to put out sides that are able to compete week in week out.
All I can add is give Les your best shot by being available - the ability on the pitch is there if everyone can get there. Thanks to all those who made the effort this week particularly those who have only signed-on on an emergency basis.
Team:
A.Evans
M.Wood
J.Campbell
J.Gale
M.Boorman
T.Gent
T.Cooper
S.Nagle
D.McGahan
N.Coxon
J.Ronaldson
