Games do not come any more gripping than this...
Two power houses of London football, met in an epic clash of the titans on a bright sunny Sunday afternoon at UCS playing fields,
The Gower Allstars, unbeaten in the league with 11 wins out of 11 in the Premier Division, chasing a historic cup and league double were facing the only team between them and the title - Redstar Camden, the 7-time champions and current unbeaten Middx and London Cup finalists who themselves were gunning for an unprecedented quintuple (as reported in the Camden Journal last week), including the all important Camden Premier League title.
Two great teams battling for one league title.
The Allstars were without regulars Sav, Lol and Owen, but were replaced with strength in depth with the likes of Kleinmann, Jamie, and Sam Byfield.
Both sides were exceptionally big, very strong, supremely fast and highly skilful – and right from the first whistle, the tempo was furious. Tackles were flying in from both sides, in an attempt to gain control of the game. Despite some initial good wing play from Redstar, the Gower defence stood strong, with the back four of Kleinmann, Glyn, Tom Byfield, and Ossack all clearing their lines, comfortably and efficiently.
Ricky and Roger began to get into the game after 10 mins, winning the central midfield battle, and feeding Jonny on the wing, who, from the outset, looked like he had the beating of his full back.
The break through however came against the run of play, when a Redstar corner was flicked on at the near post, to the onrushing centre back, who found the top corner of the net with his head.
A shattering 1-0 lead for Redstar after 15 mins.
Testiment to the desire of the Allstars, right from the kick-off, Ricky feeds Jonny behind the full back and his pace took him away into a one on one, with the keeper, and he slotted him beautifully.
It was literally 30 secs later, that Gower were level.
And from that moment, the Gower Allstars, did not look back. The belief was there. Redstar were vulnerable at the back and everyone could see it.
Cue Botterill to pick up the ball deep in the hole, skip round the defenders and continually create open opportunities for his team mates – a joy to watch.
And Botts was given a great chance for Gower to take the lead, when Roger sent him through the channel, and he skinned the centre back and from an angle, just shaved the post.
The team were playing as good as they have played all season, closing their opposite numbers down, within milliseconds, giving them no time on the ball whatsoever. It was clear Gowers were seriously hungry for this win.
And the best example of this, came from Botts closing down his centre back, who fumbled on the ball, and was then tackled by Botts. He skipped away, got one on one, and slotted home.
2-1 Gower, 25 mins gone.
The confidence was building continually as the game progressed, and after Roger hit the bar from distance, the Gowers could sense another goal was only moments away.
A Redstar attack was foiled by Kleinmann on the left, he gave it to jonny, who predictably skinned his marker, strode away down the line, then skinned the centre back to reach the by-line, and chipped it back for the on-rushing Botterill who on the volley side-footed home to score the classiest goal of the game and give Gower a massively important 3-1 lead after 35 mins.
Paley however kept that lead in tact, with an important save from a shot from distance.
And Kelly and Ricky were both running their socks off throughout the first half, to keep any momentum from building in the Redstar camp.
Right on half time, jonny hit the bar from a 40 yard free-kick which could have demoralised Redstar even further, but it wasn’t to be, and the Gowers took a 3-1 lead in to the break.
“more of the same boys, don’t let them even breath on the ball, give it to the wingers to cause havock” were the words of wisdom from the manager.
And boy did they listen.
With the pacey Sam Byfield on at left mid, the Gowers now had two major threats on the wings, from which to create scoring opportunities.
And they didn’t disappoint. Jonny was even better in the second half than the first. He put in his best ever performance in a Gower shirt. Everything move he tried, came off. He looked like a professional. Pace...........strength........and sublime skill simply roasted their defenders time after time.
And several good chances went begging for both Kelly and jonny.
But after Redstar had turned around two goal deficits into victories, in their last two games, Gowers knew they had to get one or two more if they were to put this game to bed.
But it wasn’t just about the attack. Redstar are a damn good side, and with the fresh legs of junior causing danger attack, the back 5 or 6 could not afford to put one foot wrong. And they didn’t. Byfield was everywhere commanding the back four, Durrant at right back, did not let his winger past once, Glyn was blocking shot after shot, and Ossack was helping turn defence into attack. A true team effort with the two brilliant centre mids constantly the bane of Redstar’s attack.
Then on 65 mins, Glyn got his usual big match cramps, and couldn’t play on. The concern was that Jamie on the bench, was planned to come on for Mike Kelly, because he hadn’t played 90 mins in 3 months. But no one was gonna stop Kelly today. Like his team mates, he had never been more determined to beat Redstar.
Jamie came on up front and had an immediate impact, holding the ball up so confidently, just when the team needed it.
Eventually after hammering away at the Redstar goal, Jonny got his just desserts, with another weaving run down the right channel, but instead of going round the outside, this time, he cut inside, onto his left and 20 yards out, slotted home low and hard into the corner of the net.
4-1 70 mins gone
Game over?
Yeah right.
Redstar to their credit, then threw the kitchen sink at the Gower defence. 3 upfront, long balls galore, and pressure on the wings, started to take its toll on the Gowers. Numerous corners were conceded, in an effort to keep Redstar at bay, but Paley and the defence stood firm, including a couple of last ditch tackles from Durrant and Ossack to save the day.
On 80 mins, a repeat of the first Redstar goal - flick on and header into the net – made the score 4-2 and gave a glimmer of hope to the London Cup finalists. More pressure then resulted in yet another corner, but with only 8 mins to go, the Gowers were not overly concerned. That was until Durrant guarding the near post, made a complete mis-judgement of a corner, which he shockingly thought was curling into the side-netting, so he decided to let it go, rather than head it, and the corner went straight in to the net!
4-3...
Surely not, Redstar surely couldn’t equalise, after being annihilated for 75 mins?
Gowers worst nightmare (and Durrants worst 5 mins of his entire footballing career) came true, when the referee controversially & incorrectly awarded Redstar a penalty when Durrant blocked a shot with his chest and the Ref thought he handled it in the box.
4-3, 5 mins to go, penalty Redstar, could Paley be a hero and save the day? He guessed the right way, dived at full length, and got a hand to it, but because Arthur hit it so true, it escaped his grasp and found the net.
4-4 !! And the Redstar bench were the ones screaming, “Go for the winner, you can do it, the greatest come back of all time!”
Every Gower was sick to their very core. Parents, friends, family, old gowers were all watching in disbelief.
How could they have thrown it away? Two ridiculous goals and they were all of a sudden level.
Would it stay 4-4? Could one of the teams snatch at the very death? Who really wanted this victory??
Eko, Redstar manager, was screaming from the touchline “Remember the first half, their first goal, switch on, concentrate!”
But it didn’t help them.
Botterill to Jamie, Jamie to Sam Byfield, Byfield beats his full back and paces away down the wing, the centre back cant catch up....
Its a one on one.
Can he finish? Can he win it in the last minute?
Bang.
Low, hard and inside the keepers near post. He scores.
The crowd and players go absolutely bananas. Every player sprints to jump ontop of the match winner, including the manager, who runs 60 yards, and jumps on the bundle and completely misses, flying straight over the top!
What a moment.
But there were still a ridiculous 5 mins injury time. It wasn’t quite over. A Redstar ball over the top, caught the back four napping, and Junior was away with a bouncing ball, one on one with Paley.
Paley sprints out, forces the lob, and takes out Junior at the same time. Ref plays advantage, and the lob goes wide.
You could hear the sighs of relief from miles away.
To top it all off, in the very last minute of injury time, when Redstar were pushing forward, an almost carbon copy of the last goal, saw Jamie feed Sam yet again down the left, who again finished sweetly, same side.
And that was the very last kick of the game.
6-4 it finished.
Games simply do not come any more exciting. Any more important. Any more glorious than that.
Anyone involved or even watching that game, will tell you that the football played by the Allstars on Sunday, was some of the best they have ever seen at amateur level. It was nothing short of sublime.
But it wasn’t all about skills and fancy footwork.
This victory was down to the grit, determination and guts of every Gower on that pitch. They were hungrier, faster, and stronger than their opposition. They played as a team. They battled as a team. They won as a team. And this victory was testament to what proper unity and desire can bring you.
Footballing moments do not come any better than this. To see every one of your team mates before on the most important day of the season. Proud does not even describe my emotions. Eko said to me after the game, "At 4-1 i just couldnt see how we could get back in this game". He later posted this on the Camden Website:
gower 6 v 4 red star.a humdinger of a game to in effect decide the title.red star outplayed for 75 then claw back a 3 goal deficit only to blow the draw within seconds.well played gowerA huge congratulations goes to each and every of you, because you are now officially one of the best teams in London, because you have just comprehensively beaten one of the best.
You are now in pole position to win the league. Two more victories and its over. Three more victories and its an unbeatable unprecedented 100% record in the league. Two more wins in the cup and you have the double – all for the taking.... Its time to grasp the opportunities that lie ahead. Because you deserve them. Bring it on!
MOTM = three candidates. Tom Byfield, for a flawless display of centre back defending, nothing got past him all day. Jonny Hurly for his best every Gower performance, of skill and pace, and if a scout were watching him, I am convinced he would have been snapped up, lucky there wasn’t one, because he was out of this world. On any other day, jonny would have received the MOTM, he was that good. But for me, there is only one winner. He was a driving force, a machine, a beast (any of the above) who crushed whoever or whatever was in his way. He covered every inch of that pitch, and never lost a tackle. He inspired all his team mates, led by example and drove the team to a historic victory. Of course its
Ricky Warren, congratulations mate, that was a performance never to be forgotten.
