Saturday 27 January 2024

HARRY SHEPHERD COMES TO THE RESCUE

After 2 weeks without a game, due to the wintry weather, we at last had a match to go to on a Saturday afternoon rather than spend the time channel hopping on the TV or going shopping.

Unfortunately the game was a bit scrappy and lacking in goal mouth action and clear scoring chances which was in contrast to the 5 goal thriller that took place at Chalk Lane just 2 weeks earlier. That day Fosters played a high line which we took advantage of to score 3 goals so it was not unsurprising that our opponents adopted different tactics this time by playing a lot deeper and getting players behind the ball.

The visitors had an early sight of goal when a cross picked out their leading scorer Harrison Rookard but his header went over the bar. We responded soon afterwards when Liam Smyth sent Eli Hearn through but his lob went just wide of the goal.

Fosters were a danger from set pieces and from a long throw in the 26th minute the ball eventually fell to Reece Barrett whose shot from just outside the area was headed clear. Ten minutes later from another throw Barrett back heeled the ball towards goal forcing a superb reaction save from our Youth Team keeper Vicente Luciani.

After a competitive but disappointing first half it was no surprise that the players went in at half time with a 0-0 scoreline.

The second half continued in the same vein as the first with the only notable early action coming from George Lutaaya who struck a shot over the bar. However, the ice was finally broken just past the hour mark and it was no surprise that it came from a corner which we failed to clear at the near post with the ball ricocheting off one of our players for an own goal. Score 0-1.

We made a number of substitutions but we faced a difficult tasked as our opponents set up a strong defensive barrier. We had a lot of possession but found it difficult to prise open a route to goal. A Max Hercules cross picked out Liam Smyth beyond the far post but Liam’s shot went wide of the post. Later a terrific pass from George Carbery picked out Liam in the area but he was he halted in his tracks by a superb defensive tackle.

With 3 minutes of normal time left we came close to an equaliser when the Fosters defence got in a muddle over a cross into their box with the ball bouncing off a defender and striking the post. With the clock ticking down it needed a moment of magic or a defensive error to get us back on level terms and 3 minutes into time added on it was the latter that came to our rescue.

A cross into our oppositions area was not dealt with and the ball fell to Harry Shepherd who calmly slotted home his 5th goal of the season to clinch a late dramatic equaliser. FT Score 1-1

This was a tough game against a strong and well organised team who made it difficult for us. But full credit to our lads who kept going right to the end to deservedly get a draw.

Despite picking up a point we dropped one place in the table to 10th, but we have games in hand over most of the teams above so if we can keep this good run of form going (that’s 5 league games undefeated now) we could catch up with some of those teams.

But we have 2 tough games coming up this week both against 4th placed St Panteleimon - firstly away at Potters Bar Town’s ground on Wednesday then at home on Saturday.

Team:

TA: Vincente Luciani, Lee Stobbs (Harry Jones 78), Adam Sawyer, Harrison Cornick, George Carbery (Capt), Jack Harvey (Noah Butler 71), Greg Deer, Eli Hearn, Max Hercules, Liam Smyth (Harry Shepherd 75), Frankie Hercules (Jonah Howgego 63).

Scorers:

TA: Harry Shepherd (90+3)

C: Own Goal (61)

Crowd: 91