Bexley Athletic faced comfortably their biggest challenge of the season today, visiting Danson Albion A of the Senior Division in the Fred Jolly Cup. Statistics before the game would have said that winning was unlikely, but in the cup you can never predict what would happen. Bexley were optimistic before the game, despite having a less than full strength squad with Luke, Mark and Elgin all missing.
Bexley kicked off on a very uneven pitch and started well, pressing the opposition. Danson barely got the ball near the Bexley goal in the first five minutes. The good form of the past weeks was carried into this game when Bexley took a shock lead. The front two combined when Laurence chested the ball down for Matt who shot beyond the goalkeeper into the bottom corner. A superb strike from outside the area. Danson tried to respond stepping up their attack but James Hall was about to send Bexley into raptures. Played in down the right hand side, he simply rifled the shot past the goalkeeper at the near post to give Bexley an unthinkable 2-0 lead.
Unfortunatly, this seemed to inspire Danson Albion. Within four minutes they were on level terms, first when a ball down the right was played in behind the defence. The attacker decided to run at the goal and scuff a shot which Dan could have dealt with better. The ball fortuitously rebounded to the same attacker who passed the ball back across the goal for his team mate to fire high into the roof of the net. From the kick off, Danson were attacking again and when a defensive header only found the edge of the box Danson fired through a crowd of players into the bottom corner beyond the helpless John Church on the post.
The remainder of the second half consisted of both teams battling hard. Laurence, James, and Matt looked threatening for Bexley and Adam tested the goalkeeper with a well struck half volley from outside the box. Dan had to be quick off his line to put a hand in front of a strike from the opposition as Bexley got away with strikes at the near post, and just on the stroke of half time Danson fired over with an open goal gaping and the captain’s one vs one shot was just tipped round the outside of the post only to find Dennis flagging for offside.
A good first half left Bexley level and easily still in the game. Adam called for more confidence at half time, getting the ball down instead of playing it long. Pete opted to take John off for James Brown with a straight swap at right back. The inevitable Danson onslaught came early in the second half. Bexley contained them very well restricting them to no shots one shot on target in the early stages where a shot through Dan’s legs squirmed round the post. Bexley’s chance to take the lead came with a free kick in a dangerous position but Adam shot over the bar. This was Bexley’s only notable effort on goal in the second half unless you count Kev’s two laughable attempts on goal.
Resistance was futile as Danson took the lead. Passing through the midfield put a player through one vs one to score. Bexley fought on bravely but eight minutes later Danson delivered the knockout blow when a ball down the left this time drew the defence to the ball allowing them to pass across the goal for a tap in. Four became five twelve minutes later when Dan got caught under a high ball. When in dropped to the player at the far post he passed back across the goal to tap in despite the attempts of Lee and Dan to clear the ball off the line. The final goal was as a result of tired defending when a clearance could only find a striker on the edge of the box who shot into the net with the aid of a deflection through Lee beyond Dan’s trailing feet.
The score line doesn’t make good reading for Bexley but the performance would make any Division three team proud. Dan made some crucial saves to keep the score line less painful and silkily took the ball round an onrushing striker.
From Steve at right back who drove the team forwards wherever he could to the two centre backs who considering the opposition had a solid game and gave 100% effort. Both right backs in John then James also gave everything. Adam led from the front as always, Laurie was immense in the air and Aaron who was a victim of some strong tackles made some crucial flicks. Laurence contributed to the first goal and chased every ball, Matt continued his fine goal scoring form this season with and along with James, both scored goals worthy of the standard of the Senior Division.
This defeat allows Bexley to concentrate fully on gaining promotion. With today’s game, and having beaten two teams from Division two, Bexley have shown they are more than able to compete at a higher level. Top team Sporting St George suffered their first defeat of the season leaving Bexley eight points behind with a game in hand. Second place looks more realistic however; even though Bexley lie fifth they have several games in hand on those above them and play Orpington Park next week who are also in contention for promotion.
(Rating this week by Peter Baulsom)
