BBOB struggled on their return from the Christmas & bad weather break, it didn't help that they faced the league leaders who had a 100% record so far in the season. An unfamiliar back four started the game, Adam Leaver returned to centre back after a long term injury to partner Stuart Burgess. Ashley Lloyd slotted in at right back as regular right back Paul Barton swapped to the left of the defence. Right from the start TMG put the makeshift BBOB defence under immense pressure. As early as the 2nd minute the ball somehow found its way through the middle of the defence to a TMG forward with just the BBOB keeper to beat and he made no error from 12 yards.
Almost immediately BBOB equalised, it was a perfect response to the already jubilant TMG! Under pressure a TMG defender over hit a back pass to his keeper, the keeper cleared the ball and it fell kindly to BBOB forward Matt Barton who fired the ball back into the net. Unfortunately that was BBOB's best moment of the first half; they spent the remainder of the half on the back foot and attempting to keep the league leaders at bay!
TMG regained the lead in the 15th minute after the BBOB defence failed to fully clear just inside their own half, a clever through ball found the TMG right winger who beat left back Paul Barton and placed his shot across the on-rushing BBOB keeper into the bottom corner of the net. A third goal after 35 minutes left BBOB with a mountain to climb, again the goal came from a ball through the middle and the pace of the TMG forwards was too much for the BBOB defence. Just before this BBOB goalkeeper Craig Watson made a fine save from close range diving to his right to prevent a certain goal.
After a ten week absence with a hamstring injury centre back Adam Leaver was sadly unable to continue any further in this match, after 30 minutes he moved to left back and Paul Barton swapped to centre back and at half time he was replaced. Get yourself fit Mr Leaver!
BBOB started the second half with Dan Buchanan at left back and substitute Jamie Eade at left wing. At times BBOB were able to move the ball around in their usual way but the pace of the opposition and the poor playing conditions went against them! In the 55th minute BBOB cleared a TMG corner to the edge of the area, and on the half-volley a TMG midfielder fired the ball into the top right hand corner leaving goalkeeper Craig Watson rooted to the spot.
BBOB appeared to respond well to this and in the 65th minute, after a good spell of possession, the ball fell to BBOB midfielder Howard Lloyd some 30 yards from goal. His well struck shot sailed into the top left hand corner beyond the outreaching opposition keeper! If nothing else BBOB did at least manage to score the goal of the game!
With 25 minutes to play BBOB still had something to play for, but this was crushed five minutes later when again BBOB were unable to fully clear a TMG corner! The ball fell to a TMG forward who fired his shot towards a crowd of players and the ricochet fell to a spare TMG forward who made no mistake from six yards out!
BBOB put in a much better performance in the second half, despite conceding two more goals, after a very erratic first half performance! As the game progressed Stuart Burgess looked very comfortable at centre half and centre forward Ben Scott certainly doesn't know the meaning of giving up on lost causes! With a fuller squad for this game the score line might have been a lot closer, but it wasn't to be!
Match report written by Paul Barton.
