Greshams fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of a very useful AFC Little Wellington side despite a much improved second half display.
The 14 arrived at Stowmarket short of Steve Norfolk watching his missus run in the muddy race at Trinity Park and both Cash and Cash Junior away for the managers birthday. Many congratulations on reaching your 50th birthday Cash - the lap dancing clubs of London/Dublin/Spain and wherever else you've been away will have a few birthday treats for you I'm sure when your next in....tomorrow!
Well they arrived at Stow....only for a bunch of kids to have taken over the only pitch that had been setup at Chilton fields....so off to Mendlesham we went on the alleged 6 mile trip further up the road...only for Sam Martin to lead us the longest way possible to Mendlesham in the people carrier/A-team van! However we had changing rooms and a good pitch to play on - better than the hole that is Chilton Fields Slowmarket!
Wellington were well on top first half with better movement and more physical power - had it not been for a good display by the Greshams defence and a string of top drawer saves from Kevin Pressman....Neville Southall....sorry Rob White then the scoreline would have been more! Making saves to the right, left and onto the bar Rob was superb between the sticks.
Too many first balls lost and midfield runners not being tracked were common theme of the first half as too many balls fell to a Wellington boot!!
Greshams had their moments however in the first half largely down to Froudys quality delivery at set pieces finding the tireless running of Rob Minns and we were particularly unlucky when Thommo freshly back from creating havoc in Afghan rose like a Connor Sammon at the backpost but was denied by a great save from the keeper who tipped onto his bar.
Manager Cook gave us constructive criticism at the break but we were second to everything and werent giving Rob or Ash a thing to feed off.
The Greshams boys gave a much better performance second half Rob Minns running causing the defence more problems than we gave them first half and the passing in the final third much crisper, confident and sharper. But the best chance of a goal second half was from Froudys deliveries from set pieces - pace accuracy and in good areas a free kick to the back post just went inches from Hamblin, Thommo and the backpost - on another day the Wellington boot on the ball to flick it beyond everyone would have ended up in the corner...or given as a corner referee!!!
At the other end - good committed defending and a better midfield display were limiting the oppositions space and when they did shoot the found Rob White in supreme form - tipping 2 shots in particularly, superbly round the post !
There was abit of Beef between the Wellington players with number 9 and captain squaring up - the captain raising his hands into the 9s face for not passing when well set!
In stoppage time and the last kick of the game and with Greshams having poured forward for a set piece the backline was exposed leaving the attacker finishing neatly past Rob.
A much better second half performance with people taking onboard what we said at half time was very encouraging and we were never out of it until the final kick - with people back in two weeks the future is very positive!
Man of the match this week goes to goalkeeper Rob White - hes been a revelation in the sticks since being too much of a big old lad too go on pitch! He kept Greshams in the game with a string of fine saves, good decision making, kicking and good talk in goal! Well played mate - see you all in two weeks at the home of football after a few of the lads get back from international week! Good luck away with Gibraltar Ryan and Snelly!
