BVH 0 Gower 1st XI 2A crucial game for Gower 1sts, to stamp their authority on, and stretch their lead at the top on Division 1 of the Camden League – against a well established, physical team in BVH.
Traditionally this fixture is always tight and a good competitive match. Not this time.
It was a complete masterclass from Gower.
We began, incredibly powerfully, with some neat interchanging and passing, which gave both strikers, Medley and Kelly, space down the channels to create goal-scoring opportunities.
We hit the bar twice and the post once in the first 10 mins of the game. A true sign of things to come.
With the right footed Matt Kleinman stepping in at left back for the missing Tom Gladstone, it was potentially a weakness for Gower – but quite the contrary panned out.
Kleinmann was brilliantly vocal, and organised the back four and the midfield in front of him, superbly. Kleinmann was assisted at the back by Glyn, and the exceptionally solid Ossack and Chittenden, and the defence played consistently well throughout – which enabled the midfielders to commit to challenges that much more, knowing they have a reliable and true foundation behind them.
Kelly and Medley were a right handful for BVH. Shots were firing in all across the edge of the box, and multiple opportunities arose from the wingers Durrant and Klinger, who both contributed excellently.
The problem was, we weren’t finishing off our fine moves. And when we went in 0-0 at the break, with Dan O Hagan untroubled for the first 45 mins, we thought “here we go again, another mis-firing week.”
Second half Gowers stepped up the tempo even greater. The strikers were getting the better of their markers, and started to get themselves into dangerous shooting positions. But again our shots were missing by inches and just not falling for us.
The beauty of Gowers this season, is that we have not let our heads dip and this week was no different.
We kept plugging and plugging until eventually, by law of averages, our luck had to turn.
And it did when Mike Kelly latched onto a cross, which found him one on one with the keeper, and he put it away to give us a 1-0 lead.
20 mins to play.
Legs were tiring by this stage, as so much energy had gone into scoring that all important goal, and you could see it in most of our players. But the defence stood firm and latched quickly onto any potential dangers forthcoming from BVH.
This was led quite outstandingly by Robin Street in the middle of the park. Running harder and noticeably faster than any other player on the pitch, he stood out as the driving force of our team. Every tackle, every challenge, every bursting run, Street was there leading by example. It was a pleasure to watch – in fact, I actually got bored of repeatedly congratulating him.
With 10 mins to go, BVH had their one and only proper chance of the match, from a 22 yard free-kick, which was excellently struck heading for the top corner, only for O Hagan to get a vital touch, tipping it onto the bar and away from danger.
With BVH pushing forward, it left huge gaps at the back for our strikers to exploit and the midfield 4 played excellently to repeatedly find their target men. Kelly and Medley however spurned at least 6 further opportunities to seal the victory (we know what we are practising on Weds night).
Eventually, Medley was put through to finally get his name on the score sheet, which he did as the last kick of the game.
Final score 2-0 to Gower.
I have to say, this was a masterclass performance by Gower 1sts. We should and could have won 12-0, no matter a measly 2-0.
We managed to play some really attractive football on a difficult, bobbly surface, and overpowered a well-established Div 1 team.
Unbeaten after 5 games, and playing some great football. Exactly where we want to be. You should be proud of yourselves.
MOTM – only one contender. Robin Street. Whatever he is having for his breakfast, I want some. A true winner, who I don’t think lost one tackle all day. Absolutely immense.
Gower 2nd XI – 7 South Mans – 2Gower 2nd XI showed strong character and excellent levels of ability to win this team- building friendly. Due to a multitude of calamities the team was weakened by a number of late pullouts but was still able to field 11, however the first ten minutes were played with only 8 due to a carload of Gowers being stuck in traffic. This must not happen again and I will be sending out an email out re: car pools etc soon.
In this first ten, with striker Luke Hill in goal, South Mans were able to push on, a defence splitting ball confusing the sweeping Hill and allowing their striker to finish easily 0-1.
Then our reinforcements arrived and Gowers were able to line up in a 4-4-2 formation (Hill - Dens, Treen, Layton, Henry – Samuel, Nick, Jon, Freedman – Muffdog, Tariq) and finally start playing some football. With an excellent work-rate in the middle of the park with Nick and Jon winning all headers and important tackles, Gowers poured forward with pressure coming from attacks from both flanks. Both Muffdog and Tariq were guilty of a few scuffed shots but the pressure was telling. Dens blazed a 25 yard shot just wide and Jon was having joy attacking the oppositions centre backs with some strong, direct running.
Eventually a corner was poorly cleared allowing Jo Samuel to crash a shot that hit the crossbar before bouncing down, back up for the ever-willing head of Treen who made it two in two with a simple header. One all at half time and the Gowers felt that momentum was on our side.
2nd half was all Gowers. Hill moved up front and Samuel went between the sticks. The lead was not long coming. Freedman had a superb game at right wing, real men against boys form, he broke free on the right and crossed for Hill to bravely slide in and finish off the keeper 2-1. The Gowers turned on the style playing good triangles of attacking football with Treen and the Wall keeping it tight and the back and Henry nullifying their left winger. Freedman then slotted in, before Muffdog skipped round the keeper to make it 4-1. Freedman then converted a Dens cross to make it 5-1 and Gowers were rampant.
Despite the large lead the players kept working hard for each other, building good habits that will serve us well in months to come. This was champagne football. Hill converted a cross with a stunning overhead bicycle kick before Muffdog curled the ball in from a seeming impossible angle next to the corner flag 7-1. We conceded from a set piece but the game was well won.
MOTM: Muffdog – Great work-rate, unselfish and clever in the pass and two clinically taken goals.
