After two weeks off due to poor weather conditions, Bexley Athletic returned to league action this week. Bexley had slipped to fifth in the league before this game but had many games in hand on the team above. Opponents Barca were two points and two positions above in third. In the reverse fixture earlier in the season an end to end game saw a closely fought 2-2 draw with Bexley equalising in the last minute.
Bexley went on the attack from the whistle forcing a corner but came to nothing. The open exchanges were very even, balls into the box forced the Barca goalkeeper into saves, but Barca looked dangerous with the ball at their feet particularly number 14. Barca’s first chance came when a foul from Kev was wrongly awarded as a free kick on the edge of the box instead of a penalty. The wall stood strong keeping the scores level.
Bexley’s passing was clearly a little rusty as they struggled to fashion clear opportunities during the mid-point of the first half. Barca’s pacey attacks caused further problems as a ball across the box left a player unmarked to control and volley at the far post which Dan reacted to tip up in the air and Adam bravely put his head in front of the opponent’s boot to clear off the line. Bexley reacted by stepping up the tempo and increasing the pressure on the Barca goal. Luke had Bexley’s best opportunity with a free shot 6 yards out but wasted straight at the goalkeeper. A long range shot was also saved by the goalkeeper as Bexley looked to grab a lead just before half time. Elgin tested the goalkeeper with a curling free kick tipped over. Half time came with the teams’ level.
Luke got to the point at half time demanding more talking on the field. Lee would take over goal kicks with Dan’s attempts being less than precise. Barca attacked in the second half but Bexley defended well. Perhaps slightly against the run of play Bexley took the lead when Lee hit a long ball through the middle. Matt didn’t give up and a defensive mix up with the goalkeeper allowed Matt to tap in his tenth goal of the season.
The goal was followed by more good defending, Lee making some crucial interventions, Kev coping with number 14 much better who were both being helped out well by James on the right. However, momentary lapse in concentration almost cost Bexley when a quick free kick from Barca led a shot twenty yards out tipped over by Dan. As a team Bexley seemed more than able to deal with Barca’s attacking throw ins and corners.
The defending was rewarded with a second goal soon after. A corner from Mark whipped in rebounded off the head of a defender into the air towards kev. Perhaps mindful of his recent attempts during the warm up, he decided not to hit the ball on the full volley. Amazingly his first touch kept the ball in play and he hit the ball with the hope of getting it on target and was amazed as anyone that it found the bottom corner.
Even with a reasonable lead the game was not over as Barca introduced new players. Bexley absorbed the pressure like a sponge, Barca coming closest with a free kick and steve clearing a ball from he goal line area. The third goal was the customary long range effort. This week it was Luke who received the ball in the midfield who moved forward hit a right footed effort to the goalkeeper’s right with a fine strike. Bexley’s final goal was supplied by Mark with a superb long ball from the midfield in-between defender and goalkeeper for Laurence to take a touch and score.
Barca got a consolation with arguably the goal of the match when Luke headed away a corner for Barca’s sub under little pressure to volley it Essien like into the top right corner. The most memorable moment of the match came just after this, when Adam in his attempt to dribble the ball fell one leg at a time flat onto the turf. Also, Peter who had come on for the injured James made a notable run for the ball but failed to stay onside. However, he did get amongst it causing problems in the box.
The result lifts Bexley up the league who are in with a very big shout for promotion. Attention turns to the cup next week for the re-scheduled game against Danson A who are thirty places higher in Senior Division. A big challenge which is by no means impossible with a good all round performance.
Random Facts
We have scored 22 goals in the first half of games this season, and 21 goals in the second half
We have never conceded a goal between the 30th and 35th minute, but have conceded 4 goals between the 45th and 50th minutes
Top three goal scorers are Matt with 10, Laurence with 7 and Adam with 6
Still unbeaten in 2011
