BBOB struggled to find the same performance they produced in the previous week's game, and in fact struggled to field a team at all. With players unavailable through suspension, work commitments and various other (unknown) reasons, it was down to the bare eleven! James Sansom-Constantini started at right midfield and Tom Bunting made his return from last season's injury at centre forward with the returning Ben Wheatland. BBOB found it difficult to get a hold of the game and found themselves increasingly under pressure from the lively South Coast City team. In the 3rd minute Dan Buchanan found himself on goal after a good pass from Chris Thomas, he fired a shot across the keeper and against the South Coast City goalpost! Ben Wheatland was unable to convert the rebound! After this neither team produced many chances, a South Coast City corner almost resulted in a goal in the 20th minute; luckily for BBOB centre back Paul Barton was able to clear the ball off the line!
In the 44th minute, with the first half score looking likely to be 0 – 0, a long ball from the South Coast City defence was not cleared by BBOB centre back Adam Leaver, on the turn he managed to toe poke the ball towards the BBOB goal, unfortunately the ball was travelling fast and BBOB goalkeeper Craig Watson was unable to catch the ball cleanly, dropping the ball in the six yard box allowing a South Coast City forward to score. Half time 0-1.
BBOB failed to improve on their luck in the second half, they came close on a few occasions, Tom Bunting twice made some space for himself but fired both shots just wide, arguably the best chance fell to midfielder Howard Lloyd, when he failed to convert a close range header from a Tom Bunting cross. Just after this the BBOB defence failed to clear their lines and a well placed through ball found an unmarked South Coast City midfielder in the area, he edged past centre back Paul Barton and buried his shot just under the BBOB goalkeeper to double the lead after 66 minutes.
BBOB had no reply to this, and unfortunately in the 85th minute right back Keith Churchward suffered a hamstring injury and had to leave the field of play. He was replaced by player-manager Steve Maskell who was carrying an injury himself! Final score BBOB 0 - SCC 2.
This was a disappointing game for BBOB, and perhaps the correct score line? There was plenty of effort and determination throughout the team and on another day BBOB may have got at least a draw! The weather didn't help either, way too hot for football!!
Match report by Paul Barton
