Match Report

League, 25^th November 2007

Final Result – FC Brimington 5 (Home) vs. Oughtibridge Village 2 (Away)

Venue – Boundary Sports Ground, Jordanthorpe Parkway, Sheffield

Managers View

The weather was mild today dry with little wind to contend with, the ground was soft underneath without being saturated with water

Team formation today 4-3-3

The starting line for today's match was as follows:  

Match day reporters – Melissa Mattock, Laurie Mattock

Photographer – Danny Palmer

First Half

The game kicked off at 11am. FCB soon got into their stride Kealey soon found some joy as wide striker using his pace and movement he soon carved out a chance after 6 mins into the game running past two village players and shot but the shot is wide. On 11 mins Ben Leversidge foils a village attack in our 18yd box as the ball falls nicely for the village forward who teed up the shot only for Leversidge to dive and block the shot with his face causing him to cut his lip and subsequently had to leave the pitch to be attended to. Christie suffering from a cold all week was below par and his movement was muted Kealey and Gartlan were causing the havoc in the village defence with their pace and movement. Shots by kealey, Collier and Gartlan put the tide of the game FCB way.

FCB were playing the neater football and started to dominate the game we was aware that village tried to spring the trap by playing the ball over the top which they did on a few occasions but we defended very well. The first really good attempt was a quick throw-in by Christie finding Gartlan free who turned and accelerated past the defender and approached the keeper some 9yds out his shot struck the post and rebounded away from goal. On 35mins Leversidge played a ball down the channel for Christie to give chase the keeper and a village defender both collide into him in the box and the referee awarded a penalty view it here. Collier takes penalty but the village keeper saves and puts it out for a corner view it here. Collier takes the corner and delivers a great ball into the box everyone misses it and Hirons strikes at goal the shot is blocked only for Kealey to shoot past the keeper and the defenders on the line 1-0 fcb view it here. We kept up the pressure and tried to prise more openings before the halfway mark but the score remained 1-0 at half time.We knew the game was still alive as we failed to capitalize on more of the  opportunities we created in the first half.

Second Half

Ben Thomas injured his neck in the first half and was substituted at half time and Sean Gardener came on and went to left back and Ben Leversidge went to right back. We started briskly again looking for the 2^nd goal early this game on the counter attack when village was in the ascendancy we quickly broke with the ball moving across field from Leversidge to Gartlan who plays the ball into the channel for Christie who still had a lot to do but he found some inspiration and chased the ball beating the defender to it with the village keeper recognizing the danger he came out to cut the angle but Christie coolly took it round the keeper and slotted home 2-0 fcb view it here. This was a great way to start the 2^nd half with some 5 mins gone.

Village was spurned into action and a period of possession followed for them, FCB failed on four occasions to clear their lines and ball put into the box eludes our defence and finds the village striker who heads home 2-1 FCB. Leversidge links up well with Kealey and another good run by Kealey ends in a shot for collier but it is wide. A through ball from Collier finds bathy who runs towards the village 18yd box and shoots wide with Gartlan and Christie free either side, the chance went begging. Christie makes a run onto a through ball and beats the defender in the 18yd box he approaches the keeper who comes towards him but Christie squared the ball to bathy who is free with the goal wide open bathy decides to tap the ball in but he forgot to put any power into the shot and the keeper gets back and retrieves. village seemingly having the life of nine cats forced the game again buoyed by that miss and a resulting throw in just outside the box some 5 mins later was not cleared and the ball landed in the 6yd box a toe poke went through our defenders leg and a shot at the far post by a village striker was parried by Newton back to the striker who thanked him for the 2^nd opportunity and duly took it 2-2 FCB. With some 20mins left substitution of Newton as he was not well before the game and Bridgewater came on for his first appearance for several weeks.

Rocked by the loss of a 2 goal lead we tried to regain the territory we had lost. We lost our shape and at one point we had four playing up front. Another chance fell our way when a shot by towers looked certain to go in but for a fantastic save by the village keeper denying towers his first league goal. Kealey, Gartlan and Christie started to have a presence again but we knew a change was needed. With 10 mins left I decide to bring on another striker Andrew Crossland, he came on for towers with bathy going into the holding role this was a shrewd move as Crossland receives the ball immediately on the right and runs into the channel deceiving two village defenders he spots Christie coming in near post but delivers a clever ball over the defence to Gartlan unmarked who brought the ball down and drilled it into the net 3-2 FCB.

Village decides with some 8 mins left to gamble and push forward leaving gaps at the back. On one such attack Bridgewater gathers the shot very quickly and sees Gartlan free on the left and delivers a great pass straight to him Gartlan attacks the right back and skips past him and delivers the ball to Christie who unmarked beats the on coming keeper some 6yds out 4-2 FCB. Village pushing forward again get caught out again some 3mins from time when Gartlan is found free again on the left he accelerates up the wing like a Subaru Imprezza turbo but this time he has a choice to pass to Christie, Crossland or Collier who was busting a gut through the middle he opts for Collier as he has the momentum into the box and he cut the ball back precisely into his stride and collier side foots with power into the bottom left corner 5-2 FCB.  

Summary

Thanks to Andrew Bridgewater and Bev Bridgewater who answered the call to come today even though Bev who recently gave birth to little Adam on Thursday only came out of hospital an hour earlier. It was nice to see you both and we dedicate the win today to little Adam. Thanks to Sam Taylor and Tom Simpson who though injured came to support. Thanks to all the supporters and helpers. Welcome back Phil and Isabelle at the Brickmakers Arms Brimington home of FC Brimington. Chris Kealey is man of the match today for his attacking prowess and the hard work he put in covering the midfield when we lost our shape.

Cliff Thomas