A win was required to get back on track after the narrow defeat the week before against Insulators. With Gozzy, Hathers and Little Frazer out of the running it gave a few players a chance to stake a claim for a regular starting berth. Hobbit came in up top and Alex Cooper made his first league start since his well documented return to the B&A. There was also a first start of the season for MeatyMcGammon in the back four after missing the first two games with athletes toe.
Although we had most of the early possession midway through the 1st half we found ourselves 1-0 down. Again no one put a foot in and watched as a Hawkenbury winger danced his way in to the box and slotted the ball past the stranded NiceGuy in the sticks. It was probably against the run of play but yet another warning that things have got to tighten up throughout the team. On a positive note no one’s heads dropped and everyone got on with the job in hand. And it paid off, with perfect timing as well. A quick break saw Hobbit spring the off side trap and when the ball broke from an attempted shot from the rejuvenated Shaggy he was on hand to skilfully round the keeper and beat the man on the line to make it one a piece. A well deserved goal.
The second half saw more pressure being heaped on to the Hawkenbury back four and again the majority of the possession was had by the B&A boys but we couldn’t make it count. Even with the introduction of want away Badboy Clarkie on the wing we couldn't find a winner. A few decisions seemed to go against us and a bit of mutiny in the ranks saw us lose focus slightly and but for a great double save from the evergreen NiceGuy in the last 5 minutes we could have well got nothing from the game. New boy Bowlesy put in an excellent performance, 75 minutes at centre back partnered with the Meat and last 15 minutes on the right hand side of midfield. He looked comfortable in both positions and gave a very good account of himself, let’s hope he can keep it up for the rest of the season. Another point on the board and another point closer to the Gaffer’s 45 point target for Premiership survival.
