SCRAPPY STALEMATE BUT TITLE PUSH ROLLS ON

Match Report – Tom Archer Vice Captain

On Saturday the team faced local rivals Burnt Ash in what is always a combative affair. This game was no different and soon became a tight scrappy affair.

BOE started well and in the first 10 minutes we pressed hard and continued the good work we’ve done in the season so far. However, we let standards and focus slip during the middle of the first half and Burnt Ash were able to create a number of scoring opportunities. As a result we allowed them to take a 1-0 lead.

We regrouped and started to play as we should and can as the team entered a purple patch of the game. We were able to create numerous chances and penalty corners in a strong 15 mins. However, we were only able to convert one of these chances into a goal via a Michael Lawrence penalty flick which he riffled home top left making it 1-1 at half time. This lack of conversion and distinct wastefulness during this dominating period of play would ultimately come back to haunt us. The team must be more clinical and capitalize on all the opportunities they create otherwise wins become draws and stat defying loses occur.

BOE started the second half brightly and scored an excellent goal through the well honed ‘sibling magic’ system as David Lawrence was superbly fed by brother Michael and the generous Chris Harden allowed David to convert an excellent fox in the box type finish.

The game then started to open up with numerous chances for both sides being created. Things got scrappy and this was epitomised when Burnt Ash were let back in the game with a poor goal from a penalty corner that we failed to keep out after a passage of broken play after the initial hit was struck.

However, as has been our way BOE rallied and we were again able to impose more pressure on Burnt Ash. We were very disappointed not to be awarded another penalty flick when a Michael Lawrence shot was deflected onto the post by a defenders hand but the Umpire ‘didn’t see it’. Luckily for BOE in the resulting play Michael was able put away another chance to make it 3-2 and see justice done.

Complacency is a huge obstacle to success and for the first time BOE foolishly let this creep into their game. If the team are honest, with 10 minutes to go, they thought they’d done enough and they sat back too much and invited to much pressure. Burnt Ash wanted it more and numerous chances were being created by the Home side. With prophetic disappointment we unfortunately conceded with two minutes to go to make it 3-3.

On reflection both teams would feel they could have gone away with all 3 points but a draw is probably a fair result in the context of a patchy and inconsistent game. Going forwards BOE have to play for the full 70 minutes, put results beyond contention and know that we can't expect wins to just occur by turning up. We have to be more ruthless in front of goal and put teams to bed. It’s another tough away game at Tunbridge Wells next week with 3 points a must in our race for the title. If we get that win we will’ve gained 10 points out of a possible 12 since the January re-start and this will reflect a good start to 2016 especially considering we will have had 3 away games in a row. However, each game as it comes, each oppo must be faced anew and every point must be earned. Come on the Club.

Motm Michael Lawrence
Dotd Stephen Roche