DATE 3rd Sep ‘2OOO
OPPOSITION BEDMINSTER DOWN
GROUND HOME
 
It was finally here, 4 months of waiting over, the new season.
Like last season our first game was a home one - pitch looked good, grass cut and freshly marked out.
We played Bedminster last season in a cup game, and lost 5-4. They, like us, had changed leagues this season.
We only had the bare 11, with Mark, Neil and Rich on holiday, Ian and Matt both working.
 
The game started, with them winning the toss and deciding to take centre. With Mike in goal Rob decided to give the Captaincy to an outfield player, for today’s game it was Gary’s job. Gary always battles on and was a good choice.
 
We had a good start and our passing was good, we had them rattled, they probably remembered we played them last season, and it was a close match. We took the lead quite early with a goal from Andy – who has re-joined us. We had a few free kicks, the Referee’s decisions going our way (real ref). Derrick had a cross-come-shot go just wide of the top right corner. From one of our corners Andy had a shot saved. But the game was to change. In the space of about 10 minutes, we found ourselves 1-3 down. The long ball through the middle catching us out
It was nearing half time, and Andy scored again to make it 2-3 at half time.
 
Rob was happy with the score line, and how we kept trying. Now we found we were back in the game with 1 goal down, Gary said if we could try and get an early goal the game could be ours.
 
We went back out on field, Andy and Stu taking another centre. In the first few minutes Stu found himself on the left putting a cross into the box, I think it was cleared before it found one of the Argonauts. They promptly went down the other end and scored. Mike had let four goals in, but he had made some good saves. Some of the goals could be classed as his fault, one was a 30-yard shot which looked as if it went through his legs. In another telling save, he scrambled off his line to the 18yd box, and saved a shot from there – to force a corner. Their players urged the ref to do something, as they said he was outside the box, thus handball, but only a corner was given.
 
With about 20 minutes to go Stu who had a small ankle problem found himself unable to run as he had been, and slowed right down, but still played on.
We had a penalty awarded to us, as Andy was brought down in the box. Paul was going to take it, but as Andy was on a hat-trick he took it. Rather than using power he tried to place it, but the keeper got a hand to it and saved it on to the post. Nick followed it up, but hit it straight at the keeper. After awhile they too had a penalty, with Rob pushing someone in the back in our box!  Mike could not save it. Just like last time we played them, there were penalties, last time there were three.
 
Rob changed things around. We went to a 3-5-2 formation, but they scored again. Nick had 2 shots saved, the 2nd falling for Andy to get his hat trick. Stu found himself with the ball coming to him from one of our shots, but mis-kicked it. Paul had a few runs and shot’s from midfield.
 
The Game Ended Up 3-6
Goal Scored by: Andy (3)
Man Of The Match: Dave
Starting Line Up:
Starting Line Up.
 
Man of the match, again like last season voted for by the players.