ENCOURAGING PRE-SEASON VICTORY FOR MEN'S 1s

MATCH REPORT: SAM DJAVIT - 1ST TEAM CAPTAIN
New coach, new signings, the mood was nothing but optimistic. We were however, facing Wapping who are two leagues above us (EAST PREMIER A) and missed out on a National League playoff by 1 point last year. It was going to be tough and we started little shaky, with some mis-directed passes and loose tackles. We were one nil down after 10 mins when a shabby scramble in the circle saw an easy tap in for the Wapping forward. A shame as new boy Chris Harden had an excellent reverse stick shot saved moments before that would've put us in the lead. Nevertheless, BOE’s responded emphatically, piling on the pressure with plenty of shots being saved. Indeed is was the impressive Chris Harden that bought us level. A lovely flowing move down the right ended with Ben Wyatt’s precision hit into the circle which was skilfully deflected on the reverse past the diving keeper by Chris Harden. 1-1. After more pressure a string of penalty corners followed for BOE. Up steps the effervescent Michael Lawrence...SWOOSH. 2-1. Clutch drag flick off the underside of the top right cross bar. Shame the half came to an end as BOE were rocking in the attack.

Calum calmed us down and made some needed tweeks to the press at half time. We were slightly more compact in the second half, but Wapping started brightly, moving the ball on quickly and got their just rewards with a good defected goal which owed a little to some weak tackles and dithering decision making around the D. 2-2. A fine save from new boy James Craigmyle in goal followed, managing to get his nut on shot he shouldn’t have saved. An excellent debut from the new lad. Once again, that sparked BOE’s into life. Some pretty cheeky diagonal aerials, nearly put James Logan in 1v1. Then out of nothing, an aerial over the top to Tom Mayfield, who took it down on the run superbly. He then cooly rounded the keeper and tucked it into the goal to put us in the lead. 3-2.

Then a moment of magic. Vice Captain Tom Archer to Eddie Forshaw at CM, who spins and playes the ball to James Logan on the run, Logan slips the ball to Michael Lawrence. Mike keeps the ball close to his stick, as the defenders descend before neatly playing in Tom Mayfield, who delicately chips the ball over the on rushing smothering keeper. BOOM. It’s what we are all about this season. Plenty still to work on and get right plus more time for this new outfit to gel but at times when we were good we were very good.

We had fine 1st Team debuts from Tom Harden, Dom Jaikaransingh, Prem Mawaha, Chris Harden, Rob Henderson, James Craigmyle and Stephen Roche. Welcome to the Oldest Club in the World, we look forward to you helping us become the Oldest and the Best.

It’s hard to pick a man of the match. Tom Mayfield’s two goals, Michael Lawrence's skills and passing, Ben Wyatt being consistent in defence and dangerous on the attack, the relentless hunger of Chris Harden to score goals. However, like Bergkamp in his prime, passes with invention, vision and guile it has to go to the Turkish international Sam Djavit. Truly majestic at times.

We welcome Blackheath club legends Andy Couves and Andy Bartlett to the Meadow next week with their Mid Sussex Crew....always a pleasure.

Djavit (MOTM)