It's been a while since we were last in action in the league, so today's friendly against Bedford Town was a chance to have a run-out and for Sandra and Darren to try a few variations in positions.
Before the match, we enjoyed the ceremony of The Changing of the lag-Gard. This year, Sandra seemed to be staging an attempt at the title, but in fact it was Boz who clearly earned the right to be ridiculed for the coming 12 months, or longer if no-one else forgets to set their clock next Spring.
We were also able to admire the curious hybrid line markings. It is perhaps not that unusual to have an athletics track outside a football pitch but to see the lanes running along inside the touchline was rather off-putting to the players, who tended to play on only 3/4 of the pitch until they got really into the match.
Once Boz arrived, we had our referee for the game (thanks Boz !) and we were off, with a slightly delayed start. We were a little low on players, but we did have two goalkeepers in Dominic and Harry. Dominic was in action first and was extremely busy as Bedford Town ran riot in the early part of the game.
There were shots peppering our goal. A great number were saved by a combination of various parts of Dominic, the many defenders, 2 posts and the crossbar. However, we did fall behind fairly quickly, and conceded a second after six minutes.
Harry came into goal after Dominic suffered an injury to his knee. A third goal for Bedford followed on 12 minutes, but now Brickhill were beginning to offer some resistance and were perhaps becoming more used to their new positions.
In fact Angus - playing upfront - pulled a goal back on 19 minutes from a well-deserved Elijah corner.
For the remainder of the half, there was much more purpose from Brickhill. Ewan was very effective, and Fred was causing a lot of problems in the midfield. We managed to hold the half-time score to 3 - 1 down.
The second half was a really solid effort from the whole team. There was battling play in all areas of the pitch. Angus continued to adapt pretty well to his upfront role, whilst David was having a solid match and made a number of vital interventions. Sam C and Josh were also able to apply constant pressure to the oncoming Bedford forwards, preventing them from adding to their goal tally.
Ewan, meanwhile, was excellent and was rewarded with a goal after about 10 minutes of play in the 2nd half.
At only 3 - 2 down, we weren't too sure whether we wanted the whistle to blow to hold the score there, or to keep playing to find an equaliser. That looked possible, but in fact with the last kick of the match the home side finally made pressure pay and added a fourth.
The final score, 4 - 2, was a decent result against 1st division opposition. For large periods of the match we were equal to them. Remembering that they were 3 - 0 ahead after 12 minutes, we effectively won the last 45 minutes by a margin of 2-1.
BEDFORD TOWN 4 - 2 BRICKHILL WANDERERS
(Angus 19min, Ewan, 39min)
Sunday, 30 March 2008
Saturday, 29 March 2008
20th March League
Here are the current league standings:
It appears that the league title is really between Sundon and Ampthill. We ought, really, to be able to secure 3rd as we have games in hand over both Dunstable and Westoning. To achieve 2nd, however, we would need Sundon, especially, to give up a lot of potential points. Unfortunately we have played both our games against them.
Sunday, 16 March 2008
March 16th: Match vs Kempston Postponed
League match (Home vs. Kempston Colts 'B') postponed due to waterlogged pitch.
Sunday, 9 March 2008
Oh When the Saints
Cup semi-final day. We faced Shefford Saints, away. This is the first time we have played 1st division opponents. However, we always felt we had a chance if we played to our best.
The omens were good - Barnsley dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup yesterday, and Potsmouth doing the same to Man. United. Playing conditions were virtually perfect. We had a full squad available for the first time in several games, and promptly at 10:30 we were off.
The first attack came from Shefford, but straightaway Brickhill re-took the initiative and forced a corner. What followed was text-book: a good ball in to the near-post found Niall's head and then the back of the net. 1 - 0 to Brickhill after 2 minutes. What a start !
Brickhill now had to weather a series of attacking moves from the 1st division side. A goalmouth scramble resulted in no goal, then their #11 shot wide after breaking free and beating Angus in goal. More chances were squandered by the home team - a header wide from a corner, shots over bar.
However, although Shefford had plenty of chances they were not wholly dominating either and there was good football from Brickhill as well.
Eventually, Shefford did find a goal. A goal kick into the wind was won by the red shirts, and they were able to take it back into our box and past the keeper. 15minutes gone, and level.
There was pressure at both ends but no further scoring. To be 1 - 1 at half time seemed a good situation, really, and we could see that we had a chance.
At the re-start, we made the first in-roads, but on the counterattack, Shefford fired a low one in from the wing and the ball slid through Angus' dive. The home side now had the lead for the first time, but we kept up the pressure although the last ball seemed to be missing. Fred came on for Dominic and there were a number of promising attacks.
3 - 1 was the next scoreline when a solid shot was out of reach. We still looked capable of closing the gap. A goal-mouth scramble somehow resulted in no goal, and Elijah fired more than one effort on target, but the keeper was always in position.
With less than 15 minutes to go, Shefford found another goal although this effort was surely offside. Unfortunately, the referee and his assistant did not see it that way and at 4 - 1 down it was likely to be an uphill struggle.
The Hawks continued to battle to the final whistle, forcing several corners and free kicks, but we failed to find the magical comeback.
At the end, 4 -1 flattered the victors. Over 60 minutes, Shefford probably deserved to win but it was in no way a one-sided encounter and left no doubt that Brickhill were justified to be in the semi-final. It has been a fantastic cup run that is a credit to the team and the coaches. Sadly, it is now over for this season.
We hear that Kempston were 5 - 0 winners over EB lions in the other match, to set up an all 1st-division final.
SHEFFORD SAINTS 4 - 1 BRICKHILL WANDERERS
Niall (2min)
Well done again to Sandra and Darren for taking the team this far in their first 11-a-side season.
The omens were good - Barnsley dumping Chelsea out of the FA Cup yesterday, and Potsmouth doing the same to Man. United. Playing conditions were virtually perfect. We had a full squad available for the first time in several games, and promptly at 10:30 we were off.
The first attack came from Shefford, but straightaway Brickhill re-took the initiative and forced a corner. What followed was text-book: a good ball in to the near-post found Niall's head and then the back of the net. 1 - 0 to Brickhill after 2 minutes. What a start !
Brickhill now had to weather a series of attacking moves from the 1st division side. A goalmouth scramble resulted in no goal, then their #11 shot wide after breaking free and beating Angus in goal. More chances were squandered by the home team - a header wide from a corner, shots over bar.
However, although Shefford had plenty of chances they were not wholly dominating either and there was good football from Brickhill as well.
Eventually, Shefford did find a goal. A goal kick into the wind was won by the red shirts, and they were able to take it back into our box and past the keeper. 15minutes gone, and level.
There was pressure at both ends but no further scoring. To be 1 - 1 at half time seemed a good situation, really, and we could see that we had a chance.
At the re-start, we made the first in-roads, but on the counterattack, Shefford fired a low one in from the wing and the ball slid through Angus' dive. The home side now had the lead for the first time, but we kept up the pressure although the last ball seemed to be missing. Fred came on for Dominic and there were a number of promising attacks.
3 - 1 was the next scoreline when a solid shot was out of reach. We still looked capable of closing the gap. A goal-mouth scramble somehow resulted in no goal, and Elijah fired more than one effort on target, but the keeper was always in position.
With less than 15 minutes to go, Shefford found another goal although this effort was surely offside. Unfortunately, the referee and his assistant did not see it that way and at 4 - 1 down it was likely to be an uphill struggle.
The Hawks continued to battle to the final whistle, forcing several corners and free kicks, but we failed to find the magical comeback.
At the end, 4 -1 flattered the victors. Over 60 minutes, Shefford probably deserved to win but it was in no way a one-sided encounter and left no doubt that Brickhill were justified to be in the semi-final. It has been a fantastic cup run that is a credit to the team and the coaches. Sadly, it is now over for this season.
We hear that Kempston were 5 - 0 winners over EB lions in the other match, to set up an all 1st-division final.
SHEFFORD SAINTS 4 - 1 BRICKHILL WANDERERS
Niall (2min)
Well done again to Sandra and Darren for taking the team this far in their first 11-a-side season.
Sunday, 2 March 2008
Birthday Honours
Away at Westoning (near Flitwick) today, in need of a good result after a very poor run. The pitch was in good condition - looking very fresh in fact as it was repainted in front of our very eyes during pre-match warm-up!
Fred was back post ski-ing injuries, albeit with his knee strapped up. We were however missing Cameron and David.
We were off to the best possible start, in any case. Dominic made a strong run into the box and took it all the way, and over the line, for a goal after just 56 seconds !
It was a much better effort all round in fact as Greg added a second after 7 minutes after picking the ball up just into their half and eventually beating the keeper at close range. It was all-action, with everyone getting stuck in, and plenty of shots.
There was no Derek to shout "SHOOT!" but all the boys were doing it anyway.
Just over half-way through the first period, Brickhill increased their lead to 3 - 0 from an Elijah corner. There is some debate over the scorer. Before the ball finally came to rest in the back of the net, Greg got a head on it. However, after taking witness statements and considering my first impression of it, I have concluded that it was already over the line before Greg's contribution.
There is some case for it being an own-goal as the Westoning keeper certainly had a touch, but I will award it to Elijah.
Despite our lead, Westoning remained committed themselves, and they pulled back a goal shortly afterwards and a 2nd a few minutes later. For our part, we had many near-misses but the half-time score remained 3 - 2 in our favour.
As soon as the 2nd half resumed, however, this changed as Greg got on the end of a good passing sequence and made it 4 - 2 from the first move of the period.
Fred now came on for Dominic. He clearly was excited to be back in action, and eager to put his name on the scoresheet. However, it was Westoning who found the next goal - lobbed in, possibly with some assistance from the wind.
Nevertheless, it looked as though we had plenty of goalscoring potential - Luke, Elijah and Fred all going close before Niall slammed one into the roof of the net to give us a 2-goal cushion with a few minutes remaining.
This was certainly a bonus as Westoning were also creating opportunities and forced a great save from Harry - tipped over. The home side did appear frustrated at times, and they kicked the ball away on more than one occasion prompting the referee to speak to the players.
Now, Luke was brought down in the box and Ewan decided he (Luke)should take the resulting penalty. The shot was nearly placed in the bottom left. 6 - 3.
Wait ! The ref has not blown his whistle, and the ball had to be replaced on the spot. A nerve-wracking moment, but Luke coolly fired the second attempt in the top right corner. 6 - 3 again.
This was the final score. A good result and a much better performance, which was a nice present for Sandra's birthday (yesterday) and a nice lead-in to our victory over Shefford Saints in the cup next Sunday.
WESTONING RECREATION 3 - 6 BRICKHILL WANDERERS
Dominic (1min), Greg (7, [18], 31), Elijah (18), Niall (56), Luke (pen, 59)
Fred was back post ski-ing injuries, albeit with his knee strapped up. We were however missing Cameron and David.
We were off to the best possible start, in any case. Dominic made a strong run into the box and took it all the way, and over the line, for a goal after just 56 seconds !
It was a much better effort all round in fact as Greg added a second after 7 minutes after picking the ball up just into their half and eventually beating the keeper at close range. It was all-action, with everyone getting stuck in, and plenty of shots.
There was no Derek to shout "SHOOT!" but all the boys were doing it anyway.
Just over half-way through the first period, Brickhill increased their lead to 3 - 0 from an Elijah corner. There is some debate over the scorer. Before the ball finally came to rest in the back of the net, Greg got a head on it. However, after taking witness statements and considering my first impression of it, I have concluded that it was already over the line before Greg's contribution.
There is some case for it being an own-goal as the Westoning keeper certainly had a touch, but I will award it to Elijah.
Despite our lead, Westoning remained committed themselves, and they pulled back a goal shortly afterwards and a 2nd a few minutes later. For our part, we had many near-misses but the half-time score remained 3 - 2 in our favour.
As soon as the 2nd half resumed, however, this changed as Greg got on the end of a good passing sequence and made it 4 - 2 from the first move of the period.
Fred now came on for Dominic. He clearly was excited to be back in action, and eager to put his name on the scoresheet. However, it was Westoning who found the next goal - lobbed in, possibly with some assistance from the wind.
Nevertheless, it looked as though we had plenty of goalscoring potential - Luke, Elijah and Fred all going close before Niall slammed one into the roof of the net to give us a 2-goal cushion with a few minutes remaining.
This was certainly a bonus as Westoning were also creating opportunities and forced a great save from Harry - tipped over. The home side did appear frustrated at times, and they kicked the ball away on more than one occasion prompting the referee to speak to the players.
Now, Luke was brought down in the box and Ewan decided he (Luke)should take the resulting penalty. The shot was nearly placed in the bottom left. 6 - 3.
Wait ! The ref has not blown his whistle, and the ball had to be replaced on the spot. A nerve-wracking moment, but Luke coolly fired the second attempt in the top right corner. 6 - 3 again.
This was the final score. A good result and a much better performance, which was a nice present for Sandra's birthday (yesterday) and a nice lead-in to our victory over Shefford Saints in the cup next Sunday.
WESTONING RECREATION 3 - 6 BRICKHILL WANDERERS
Dominic (1min), Greg (7, [18], 31), Elijah (18), Niall (56), Luke (pen, 59)
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