What a difference a week makes. From struggling against JB Knights, to a superb disciplined win against Junior Red Spartans. Last week, Bexley were extremely fortunate their opponents were 11 invertebrates who couldn’t hold a 3-0 lead for 20 minutes. This week, it was a Sunday morning master class of a performance. On paper this game looked like an impossible task. Suspensions, injuries, and absentees meant emergency signing Kieran was drafted in with Rob and Steve forming an unfamiliar centre back partnership. It’s a good job football isn’t played on paper.
At kick off the pitch was good, and good to soft in places.Spartans set out their early intentions, short passing and moving utilising their quick players to work the ball into the final third. They kept possession well and looked to be well worth their league position. Against the run of play the first effort on goal fell Bexley’s way. Some careless passing at the back put Elton in on goal. Unfortunately for Bexley, their number 14 is without a goal for 14 days and showed that with his finish.
Spartans continued to press for the opening goal but couldn’t break through Bexley’s defensive organisation. The game was finely balanced and the tension was coming to the boil nicely. Bexley were largely coping, but the odd unnecessary panic was giving Spartan’s some unnecessary confidence. Then the first key moment of the game went Bexley’s way. A cross from the right side eluded the entire back four falling to the free striker on the volly 8 yards out. Failing to find the corner, he gave Dan a chance to pull off a point blank reaction save.
Bexley edged their way back into the game and a opened the scoring taking advantage of another bit of Spartan’s generosity. Rob punted the ball forward and the defender fluffed the header straight into a dangerous area. Elton wasn’t likely to pass up such a gift for a second time as he clinically rifled the ball through the keeper.
A tactical switch as Mark picked up a knock meant Kieran moved to right midfield and Mark supported Elton up front. Spartans would come close from a corner kept out by a combination of Dan and Rob on the post. A clear indication of the fragility of a 1-0 lead; and despite all the good defending, Bexley could not afford to switch off. Rob was later in last ditch tackle action covering for his centre backs. This along with other excellent defending took a 1-0 lead into half time.
Second half and Bexley maintained the same plan and was uted to outstanding effect. Spartan’s put Bexley under pressure, but Bexley withstood the attacking advances with intelligent defending from both the defenders and the midfield. This did come with a cost, yellow card correctly awarded a yellow card. Nonetheless, this formed a platform in the game and find a second goal. Kieran had been displaying the attacking ability Adam had promised earlier in the week. He made it count with a Gareth Bale sprint down the right, centring for Elton to finish from close range.
2-0 could have been a dangerous score line as Spartan’s still had two goals in them at this stage of the game. But their confidence was in a gradual decline and the fluent passing of the first half was becoming sloppy. To finish the game off, an old school combination of Laurie supplying Elton to finish from close range, securing his hat trick and 60th Bexley goal. The third goal killed the game; Spartan’s begun to give away sloppy fouls and never really had a serious influence on the Bexley goal as the 18 yard box remained firmly in the control of the back 5. Elton could have scored a fourth but was denied by a decent save;but he would later turn supplier for Ryan who casually launched one into the top corner from 25 yards.
4-0, goal difference reversed, and top of the league. Excellent all round team performance; definitely one of the good days.
