Fortunately for Greshams, their longest away trip of the half season fell on Remembrance Sunday, meaning an 11 o'clock kick off and a civilised time for departure from the Club. When the mathematical geniuses of the squad had calculated how to fit twelve players into three cars, the convoy departed, duly arriving in Wetherden to find themselves in a changing block clearly designed with either midgets or the Wetherden under 11s in mind.
Feeling quite at home in such surroundings, with the rest of the squad stooped around him, Cashen named the team which lined up with Rob in goals; a back four of Phil, Greg, Hamblin and Cash; in midfield Froudy, Rich Minns, Sam and Matt; with Meng and Steve up front and a strong bench of Harry and Emy. Emy was selected to run the line in the first half and did so emitting his usual smoke signals from his e - cig, causing localised foggy conditions in the Greshams left back area.
Having been given a 7-1 thrashing by Wetherden at the Tuddenham Road Ground, Greshams knew they were in for a game. However they raised their performance significantly from the previous week's embarrassing effort against Rushmere. With Rich Minns driving them forward from midfield, Greshams matched Wetherden from the off. It was soon clear that this was going to be a tight affair. Possession was evenly matched and neither team was able to carve out a meaningful opportunity, with the Greshams back four working well as a unit. Greshams best chance came from a free kick at the edge of the box following a foul on Rich Minns, however, the keeper was never really troubled.
Just as it looked like Greshams might reach half time at nil nil, Wetherden snuck a rather lucky goal. The left winger, who had been fortunate to escape punishment for a shocking two footed lunge a fw minutes earlier, gathered the ball in the box, just about wrong footed Phil, and hit a rather soft shot across Rob which dribbled apologetically in off the post.
Half time Wetherden 1 Greshams 0
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first. Emy soon replaced the tiring Meng in an attempt to bring some variety up front for Greshams, but Emy for once found it hard to get in to the game. He scampered after one through ball only to be intimidated by the very substantial form of the Wetherden keeper rushing out to save.
With defences remaining on top, there was little for either keeper to do, but Rob did pull off one blinding stop. Cashen didn't get enough on a clearance and the ball sat up perfectly for the Wetherden striker to lash on the volley towards the top corner, only to find Rob leaping to his right to save with his fingertips.
Harry replaced Phil for the final part of the game as the Greshams defence continued to look quite comfortable, with Hamblin in particular tackling, blocking and heading everything that moved.
Greshams had a few more free kicks just outside the box but neither Froudy or Matt was able to quite find the accuracy to really cause the Wetherden keeper a problem. As time went on Greshams pressed forward, with the veteran left back finding some energy from somewhere to raid down the wing. Finally Greshams carved out the chance that could have seen them level. After some good play, a great cross came in from the right in the direction of Matt at the far post. It looked like the ball was too high for Matt but he did really well to get a great leap and head the ball goalwards - only for the keeper to get across and palm it on to the underside of the bar from where it somehow bounced away to safety.
In the last play of the game Emy lashed in a shot which flew over the bar and the referee's whistle went, bringing to an end a valiant display by Greshams and an enjoyable game to play in, despite the defeat.
Full Time Wetherden 1 Greshams 0
Man of the Match
This was a much improved performance all over the park compared to the previous weeks' debacle. However after such a solid display in defence the bubbly has to go, unusually, to a defender. The back four all played their part with Greg his usual reliable self and the veteran full backs showing all the benefit of their many years' experience. However it was skipper Hamblin who stood out this week, putting in some great tackles and a particularly good block in the second half when a Wetherden goal looked inevitable. So the Bollinger goes to Steve this week, well played indeed mate.
