Pulborough Reserves turned up at Fortress Emsworth with an army of supporters and a few selected 'first teamers' on saturday to continue the recent rivally. Pulborough had the upper hand for the first 15 minutes or so, but we battled our way back into the game with Chalkie, Bran, Geoffer and Danny, providing some good balls from the midfield and Lee and Keith chasing everything up front. We were unlucky to go in at half-time 2 v 1 down. We had a stand-in keeper this week, Dale, who played well behind the solid Coalie defense...Scholes, Andy, Jezzer and Simon. Chris came on in the second half to work his magic down the left wing. We had some great chances in the second half. Danny, Geoffer, and Keithy all missing from close-in, but on the final whistle it all came good when Lee Good smashed in his second of the game to level the game 2 v 2. It felt like a victory!!
Next week we are at home to Fernhurst.
After last weeks goal drought there were bound to be a few goals around this week and that was the way this game panned out. Fernhurst is a beautiful little village but their football pitch was a slopping slippery monster. Despite that we managed to play some inspired passing football (not always to the right team) and came out 3 v 2 winners to keep the pressure up for that last promotion spot. Chalkie chalked up his first goal of the season with a tap in after battling attacking play from Keith and Lee Good. Choz and Bran battled away in the midfield while the Gaffa tried to make it a fair game by passing to the opposition every chance he got. Scholes, Jez, Soiller, Chris and Brian kept the defense as solid as a Mount Vesuvius rock and Jon returned to goal this week and played out of his skin as usual.
We lost to Pulborough 5 v 1 earlier in the season, so the lads approached this game with some trepidation. It was a fantastic battling performance to produce the first ever goaless draw in the history of the Coal Exchange Football Club. Maybe there's a good omen for Pompey when Arsenal revisit!!
We started well with Bran, Jez, Giggs and Fellows linking up well in the midfield. Lee and Keith had a few chances and were unlucky not to snatch a winner towards the end, but it was the defense who really showed their quality today. Chopper Oiller let no man live down the left, Scholes and Andy sewed up the centre and Chris chased everything down the right. Geoff went in goal in the absence of Jon and performed heroics despite a few heart stopping moments, and earned Coalies first clean sheet of the season!!!
The Coalie once again managed to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory this week. Lodsworth scored first with a glancing header, but the Coalie fought back and after a tencious run and pass (yes it's true) from Keithy, Lee Good tapped in the equaliser. This inspired the team and the midfield quartet Bran, Geoffer, Chalkie and Danny provided quality service for the front men and the defense Scholes, Andy, Jessie and Simon protected Jon in goal. The game changed when Lodsworth had a player sent off. Lodsworth found renewed determination and the Coalie seemed to start playing like a bunch of girls (sorry girls)!!! Even the introduction of Brian and three centre forwards (four including Geoff) couldn't rescue the game. Lodsworth scored another headed goal and took the three points back the hills from whence they came.
With the Gaffer away on International Duty, Skipper Scholes took charge of the team for these two games. In the first the Coalie were only 3 v 0 up with five minutes to go. It wasn't enough and A&B Rovers scored three times to make it 3 v 3 at full time.
21st Feb 2004 Coal Exchange 2 v 4 Lancing Bareham Trophy
By all accounts it was a tight game with the scores at 2 v 2 with ten minutes to go. Unfortunately the beer and curry took it's toll and the Coalie faded at the end to lose 2 v 4.