Benders Get Revenge Over Under-Strength Lads!
Longueville Lads 3 Botolph Benders 4 a.e.t.
27th September 2000: Kick off 4:30pm
The Longueville Lads were an under strength team when they took on the Botolph Benders yet again; Darren Jepson was missing with work commitments and Andy 'Bream Supreme' Gilbert was away on school duty. Without these two influential players, the Longueville Lads lost their first game in ten matches. Phil Brown Jr deputised in goal whilst Wrighty had his first solid game on pitch at the centre of defence. Jacques claimed his first start for the lads and there was a place on the bench for new signing Ashley Cope. The pitch was in good shape despite all the rain and although several players kept losing their footing, there were good opportunities to play good football, of which the Longueville Lads took advantage.
The game opened at a high tempo with end to end action right from the start and in the sixth minute of the match Paul Neal’s shot from twenty yards flew past Phil in the Longueville goal who believed it was going wide. However, it didn’t take the Lads long to get the equaliser after some great football from all over the pitch. Phil Brown Sr was on hand to smash home to make the score 1-1. The rest of the first half was full of good play from both teams, Wrighty, Brown and Jez all going close to giving the Lads the lead, whilst Wrighty and Silv were doing a stern job at the back, breaking up many attacks.
The Benders were quick off the mark, scoring on their first attack of the second half, catching the Lads short at the back. In true Longueville spirit though, the Lads scored just a minute later when Wrighty played the ball into Phil, who laid it off to Silv, who fired home from ten yards out. Silv was then moved up front with Jez filling in at the back, and the switch round proved a good one as, with ten minutes to go, substitute Ashley Cope set up Phil who claimed his second of the match. Ashley’s introduction gave the Lads a bit of bite in the middle of the park, which they were missing in the first half. The lads were playing good football throughout and it became a mystery how Phil didn’t complete his hat-trick with many more chances. Having a 3-2 lead, the Lads played with three at the back - Wrighty, Silv and Jez - all of whom looked solid, but it was inevitable that the Lads conceded a third without anyone up front who could hold the ball up. Slippery conditions led to a mistake by Brown in the Longueville goal, making the scores even at 3-3.
The ten minutes of extra time ended with a surprise victory goal from Neal, who completed his hat-trick five minutes from the end. The Longueville Lads didn’t deserve to lose, with every player putting in a fine performance; the only problem was the impressive Quinney in the Benders goal.
Team:
Phil Brown Jr: Some fine saves; a couple of mistakes let him down. Good first match, 6
Adam Wright: Should be a regular on pitch, steady performer, 8
James Gilbert: Great game at the back, capped with a well taken goal, 8
Jeremy Burton: Poor first half, made up for it in second half defensive role, 6
Phil Brown Sr: Two brilliant goals, should have had more. Good work rate, 7
Jack Tiley: Did what he had to do, still more to come from the youngster, 6
Subs:
Ashley Cope: Fine debut; good vision, worthy of start next match, 7, on for J. Tiley
