Getting Ahead

First mid-week game of the campaign. This time facing bottom-of-the-table Bedford Park Rangers. Clearly we expected three points, but the plan has been known to fail before.

At least we had a full squad of 15. Perhaps the prospect of goals a-plenty was a factor. That, and the fact it would be hard to find an excuse to be unavailable on a school night. And devotion to the team, obviously.

The main feature of the early game was the Walcott-like pace of Cameron, which resulted in a number of enthralling runs at the target, but no actual goal. However, one of these attacks brought a loose ball which Elijah grabbed hold of (not literally of course), and made a clean finish to open the scoring after a little less than 10 minutes.

Good work from Luke and Fred in midfield opened up another chance for Elijah 3 minutes later, doubling the lead.

The game was not entirely one-sided, so Dominic had something to do in goal and his kicks out of goal were working well, assisted by the windless conditions and the hard ground. From one such launch, Elijah won a free-kick but he was off the field receiving treatment when Josh took the free ball. The keeper parried the shot, but Luke easliy dealt with the rebound to make it 3 - 0 at the 15-minute mark.

Cameron finally converted a chance: Dom's long kick was met by Elijah who took the ball forward and passed to Cameron who took aim. Unfortunately, his conversion was of the rugby type. His first goal will have to wait !

BPR now made a break and, though the play was judged offside by Adrian (who had kindly volunteered for line duty), the referee felt the move was valid and allowed the resulting goal, which was well taken at the end.

However, Greg restored the 3-goal lead with a Lineker-style effort. 4 - 1 at Half-Time.

It felt like we missed more than we scored in the second half. Niall scored after a Greg run and a deflection (5 - 1) and Elijah made it back-to-back hat-tricks when he added his third, and Brickhill's 6th.

That is how it stayed although BPR rattled the crossbar in pursuit of a second goal.

A good win for us, and a game played in great spirit by BPR who have not had an easy season.

BRICKHILL 6 - 1 BPR
Elijah (9min, 12, 45), Luke (14), Greg (30), Niall (36)