Boythorpe, at last played on what could be classed as home soil, for the eigth pre season game, against Ark Tavern, a team who will be playing SIX divisions higher than thier hosts in the league this season. With it brought yet more selection nghtmares, this time it was the defence who were short on numbers. Out were Hardy, Miles and Furniss (holidays), and Widerman and Lee Walton who had picked up injuries. Returning however were Potter in goal, and Lawrence recovering from a slight ham-string strain in defence, while on the bench was new signing striker / midfielder Craig Megyesi, another player from the now defunct Holymoorside team.
The gulf in class was apparent, as Boythorpe were caught cold right at the start. A free kick in the 1st minute was only half cleared, and Tavern swept in the loose ball for an early lead. The hosts hardly had time to draw thier breath as Tavern kept on the pressure sweeping forward and pushing the blues back. A long ball over the top after 7 mins was missed by the usually reliable Whitehead, and Tavern striker lashed the ball in for 2-0.
Boythorpe eventually mustered an effort after 9 mins, a long ball by Scott Bennett found Bonson, who knocked the ball to Brown, who in turn cut past two players before firing just over. It was pressure back on at the other end though and Boythorpe were punished again on the quater hour, a fine double save by Potter unfortunatly fell to a Tavern striker who made no mistake from the 3rd chance. Further misery was almost heaped on the hosts a couple of minutes later, a needless free kick was given away by Whitehead 25 yards out, the free kick was bent beyond the wall, but Potter launched himself to his left and pushed the ball away for a corner.
This required a super human effort from Boythorpe, and they rolled thier sleeves up and roared on by club captain Dean Brown they began to get a foothold in the game. A free kick after 20 mins came back off the wall and was smashed in by BROWN to make the score look a little bit more respectable. Tavern became a little uneasy and gave away a few silly free kicks, none more stupid than the defender catching a ball coming over the back, Brown took the free kick from this but his effort was well tipped over by the keeper.
Around the 28th minute Boythorpe won a series of corners knocked in well by Shane Bennett, one of these were knocked to the front post and was met by a glancing header by Bettney, who had come up from the back to make it now 3-2, and the pressure was now on Tavern. The game was now quite even, and it took a rare mistake by Potter to present Tavern with a 2 goal lead again. The keeper was slow coming off his line and legendary striker Mark Woods nipped in and lifted the ball over him, there was still some work to do and woods almost over ran the ball as Potter tried to get back, but the striker knocked the ball in.
A good clearance by Potter found Wright in the 44th min and as he turned he appeared to be fouled the ref waved play on as the ball had found BROWN who finished with a goal hit sweetly in off the post. HALF TIME Boythorpe...3 Ark Tavern...4.
Lawrence was switched with Bettney in defence and both seemed to profit from the switch. Bettney went close from another Shane Bennett corner clipped into the near post, but the ball ended up in the side netting. 10 mins into the 2nd half saw Megyesi come on for Scott Bennett, who was still recovering from injury, and he got straight into the fray with his strong attacking runs causing problems for the Tavern defence.
Tavern almost snatched a 2 goal lead again just after the hour when a hopefull shot come cross nearly caught out Potter and crashed against the bar with the keeper beaten. An attack at the other end saw Wright scuff an effort wide. Boythorpe pulled the game deservedly level after 77 mins, another smart Shane Bennett corner knocked into the front post and was met by MEGYESI who planted his header past the keeper for 4-4. Within a minute the debutant almost doubled his tally after being found with a ball by Bonson and lashing his effort just over.
As the game drew to a close there seemed only one team capable of winning it, Brown went close after more good work in midfield. Megyesi almost stole the game in the 88th minute but his fine effort was blocked for a corner. Shane Bennett AGAIN whipped the corner to the near post and up popped Mr Reliable LEE WRIGHT to head into the net for a well deserved 5-4 win. FULL TIME Boythorpe...5 Ark Tavern..4
