Men's 2nd XI Vs Eastbourne Men's 3rd XI

Details	Players
Season: Season 2009-2010 Date: 10.10.2009 Time: 10:30 Team: Mens 2nd XI Competition: League Location: Away Opponent: Eastbourne Men's 3rd XI Our Score: 7 Opponent Score: 4 Result: Won	Jack Symons - 0 Goal(s) Luke Helmer - 0 Goal(s) Jamie Luke - 0 Goal(s) Arran Barker - 0 Goal(s) Bryan Lock - 4 Goal(s) Chris Wheeldon - 0 Goal(s) Tim Barter - 1 Goal(s) Mark Minchell - 1 Goal(s) Stuart Barter - 1 Goal(s) John Massie - 0 Goal(s) James Cook - 0 Goal(s) David Edmondson - 0 Goal(s)

Match Report(s)

Eastbourne 3rd XI  4  v  7  Worthing 2nd XI

 

Scorers: B.Lock 4, M.Minchell, S.Barter, T.Barter

 

An excellent attacking display in the early morning sunshine at the Saffrons, ensured the 2nd XI kept pace with the top half of the league, all on 6 points after 2 games. With Adam Stephens making a late withdrawal due to illness on Friday evening, the skipper decided to gamble and just go with the bare XI. This ill judgement was quickly reversed after some bright thinking the next morning by Luke Helmer at Georgia Avenue, and Jack Symons was quickly summoned as a late addition to the squad. How vital this proved, as getting 4 young children to Eastbourne for the early start was a tall order for the 2nd teams talismanic and virile midfielder Mark 'the daddy' Minchell - who rocked up 5 minutes into the game!

 

After the early exchanges it was clear this was going to be no easy game, both sides looking dangerous on the attack. It was the introduction of Minchell that sparked the opening goal for the visitors, a lovely exchange of passes in a flowing move, finished by the hungry Lock, who had also cut it fine due to a breakfast stop! An error from the skipper allowed Eastbourne a soft equaliser, but this only served to stir Worthing further. Luke Helmer was linking up brilliantly with Lock and could have had a hatrick before half time. It was a route 1 effort from Minchell that put us 2-1 up, driving through the space afforded him in the inside right channel, unchallenged from just inside the opposition half, before drilling a shot straight through the keeper. We eased 3-1 ahead when after a succession of short corners, Lock unleashed a drag flick into the top corner, just rewards for an excellent first half.

 

The 2nd half started with Lock completing his hatrick and us taking a seemingly unassailable 4-1 lead. Then the game got a little messy, with Eastbourne querying a number of umpiring decisions, the temperature of the game raised a few degrees. We lost midfield dynamo Stuart Barter to a yellow card for a clumsy high tackle, which led to some significant Eastbourne pressure. They hauled themselves back into the game with a quick double, as our defence began to look a bit disorganised. We steadied the ship and with a Barter 1-2, we eased away to 6-3. Tim slamming home a routine straight strike short corner, and Stuart cooly despatching a penalty flick after a foot on the line. Eastbourne had started to lose their discipline at this point and were down to 9 men. They still managed to win a short corner and after a couple of attempts, rifled it in for 6-4. In the closing stages a fine run down the right from Arran Barker opened up the Eastbourne defence once more and he produced a lovely square ball to Lock who finished with his usual aplomb. 7-4 game over.

Encouraging were the performances of all the younger players, Arran a real threat down the right, Jack Symons coming in and filling a number of positions on debut to great effect, James Cook looking comfortable in midfield and some great touches in forward areas from Luke Helmer.

Thanks to the appointed umpires, (in particular Kieran Jones) who I thought both had fine games, despite the ridiculous protests from the Eastbourne number 31 afterwards.

 

Team: Wheeldon, Edmondson, Massie, T.Barter, Luke, Barker, Symons, S.Barter, Cook, Lock, Helmer. Sub: Minchell