Match Report
League, 20th April 2008
Final Result FC Brimington 5 (Home) vs. Hollin Bush FC 1 (Away)
Venue Boundary Social Club, Jordanthorpe, Sheffield.
Managers View
The weather was good today with a slight wind but warm, the pitch was soft. With promotion and runners up place already secured in the league our target was to finish the campaign by scoring 5 goals to hit the 100 goals mark. The team believed they could achieve this feat. Our opponents today Hollin Bush held us to a 2-2 draw 3 weeks earlier, so we knew this game was going to be a stern test. Team formation today 4-3-3
The starting line for today's match was as follows:
B. Leversidge
E. Christie
T. Simpson
T. Brooke
A. Crossland
M. Gartlan
N. Gordan
D. Simpson
M. Collier
J. Towers
Kieran Maloney (midfield)
Florent Fadiga (Striker)
Match day reporter Cliff Thomas
Photographers Florent Fadiga & Luke Read
First Half
The game kicked off at 11.00am the game started brightly with FCB quickly establishing the tempo of the game. Early chances fell to Gartlan and Christie FCB probed at the Bush defence keeping possession well but not with any last. Bush on the other hand held firm in defence and gradually gained some momentum and started to push into our half. Some good football was being witnessed by both teams each side equally looking after the ball when in possession. The action area was in the middle of the pitch where the game was contested well. 25 mins in Bush took the lead after a mix up on the edge of the box we allowed the Bush player to run through and side foot pass Newton 0-1 Hollin Bush.
Stunned by this goal FCB pushed forward stepping up the pace moving the ball from side to side with poise and grace Bush was pushed back into their own half defending, with 5 mins of the half FCB penetrated the resolute Bush defence when Gartlan went on a run skipping past all in his wake on entering the box the keeper approached him Gartlan shot the bush keeper saved but only by pushing it to one side and Christie was there to follow up and tap in to score 1-1 FCB.Second Half
Game resumed at 11.55am we noticed that some Bush players looked tired as we played the first half at a high tempo. We set out to stretch the game using the full width of the pitch. FCB controlled the game in the 2nd half keeping the ball well and conserving their energy while bush was chasing the ball. Chances started to come with 3 long range efforts from Crossland all drifting over the bar. Brooke also made a run through the middle when it opened up like the red sea but his goal bound strike took a deflection and went over the bar.
With time ticking away our dream of scoring 100 league goals was drifting away, then the break through Gordan with 17mins left played a one-two with Christie on the edge of the Bush box Gordan accelerated into the box and the Bush keeper came of his line to thwart the shot but Gordan finished superbly striking across the oncoming keeper to score 2-1 FCB view it here.
Brimington seemed buoyed by this and the team just galvanized with 15 mins left I made two inspired substitution Tom Simpson first game back since his long injury was substituted and Kieran Maloney came on Brooke went back to right back from center mid and Maloney went into Brookes position, Collier also came off as hes been struggling all week with a thigh strain and Fadiga came on I shuffled the pack and moved Christie into the middle and Fadiga went up front with an immediate impact within two mins of entering the fray Fadiga pounced on the loose ball after Gartlans run at the Bush defence was ended by the centre halves with an unfair challenge which would have been a freekick on the edge of the box but the referee waved play on and Fadiga gathered the loose ball as the defenders and Gartlan were on the floor, Fadiga ran on unchallenged and slotted home 3-1 FCB view it here.
Brimington started to play with great urgency with two goals needed the onslaught intensified probing and moving quickly around the Bush defence with 8 mins left Maloney gathers the ball on the left and crosses to Crossland on the opposite wing Crossland delivers a great ball into the area some 8yds from goal Gartlan goes for the headed goal but his header is blocked by a Bush defender but the rebound falls kindly back to Gartlan who drilled it home 4-1 FCB view it here.
With 6mins left to play everyone even the crowd was willing the team on to score the vital 5th to make 100. 2 mins later Gartlan received a pass from the middle and went out to the left flank Gartlan crossed but played the ball behind the run of Christie and Crossland coming in, but Gordan who was coming in late on the right trapped the ball with his right and steadied it, with the Bush keeper racing back across his goal Gordan struck with his left foot and the ball hit the back of the net which set off wild celebrations from the players and the supporters alike, the largest crowd this season without a doubt 5-1 FCB view it here.Summary
We never panicked even when 0-1 down we all believed we could achieve this milestone, and the way the team developed as the game went on was fantastic to see. Every single player gave something special today which I am immensely proud of we entertained arguably the best support this season and we played some really good football we kept the ball superbly which delighted the crowd.
Credit to the opposition who came and played some good football especially in the first half, this game was a great spectacle to the neutral. Man of the match Michael Gartlan. We have achieved runners up and promotion in our first ever season as a club and we have amassed the best goal difference. We have the league golden boot winner in Michael Gartlan so what a great start to the new club.
Thanks to all players and supporters Phil & Isabelle at the Brickmakers Arms, Brimington. The season will end on our awards night Friday 2nd may we look forward to seeing all then.
Cliff Thomas