HIGHWAYMEN BEATEN IN SCRABBLE DERBY

Bexleyheath & Belvedere Men's 3s 5 BEHC Highwaymen 2

This was an excellent game for participants, neutrals and observers alike, even if the abbreviated result of "BBHC 5 BEHC HWN 2" looked like some sort of scrabble-like, encrypted, coded file from Bletchley Park.  However, there was no mystery attached to a full-hearted display from the patched-up visitors against superior opposition who doubtless expected a far easier ride than they got.  The fixture list has been particularly unkind to the Highwaymen this season, somehow landing them almost consecutive fixtures against the top three teams whilst simultaneously pitching the team into inadvertent exile.  It was still November when the Highwaymen took to the pitch in Erith on Saturday at the start of a series of away matches which will not see them return to home league action until February 2020!  And Division 2 has been a much tougher prospect this season too, as witnessed by the recently rather overworked defence conceding only one goal in the first three matches, whilst haemorrhaging 12 in three of the last four.

But there were many positives to be taken from a game where, despite the absence of some key faces, captain Stephen Gilbert somehow managed to -yet again - get a competitive squad out onto the field for what looked like "mission impossible".  The spine of the team proved strong, with seasonally sparkling performances from keeper Morton Stanton, mercurial central defender Richard Cleall, and the tireless Tony Mitchell also providing a wonderful cameo in midfield alongside the welcome return of another key man this season, Phil Bunker.  It had all looked so good for the visitors in the opening two minutes as they pushed forward from the pushback and knocked the ball around nicely.  Nevertheless, come the third minute they were already behind to a brilliant lightning-quick breakaway goal from the hosts, at which point it looked like being a very long afternoon for the men from BEHC.  But they held firm nonetheless, despite conceding a number of penalty corners, and still succeeded in breaking out from the siege whenever they could.  Indeed, it was on one of these sorties that the team scored a sure contender for goal of the season when a brilliant passage of one-touch play down the left flank between Mssrs. Da Souza, Mitchell and Gainey culminated in a chance for Matt Robinson to coolly convert at the near post.  More gutsy work from the whole team meant that the Highwaymen somehow made it to the break at 1-1.

As per a week earlier, the team managed to stop the opposition from pulling away by keeping their forwards at bay for over half an hour, but a rather avoidable turnover in the away 23 led to the hosts taking the lead for the second time on 40 minutes.  Undeterred, the men in red somehow conjured up an unlikely equaliser five minutes later, courtesy of man-of-the-match Ed Smyth, who turned in a short-corner at the right-hand post to cap yet another fine performance.  Eventually and inevitably, however, tired legs and minds, age and the ever increasing short-corner count took their collective toll as BBHC made the game safe and deservedly collected all three points, albeit with a scare or two en route on a day they probably thought would be far easier than the one which actually transpired.

With one rearranged league match to go against Gillingham, the Highwaymen's mid-term report is predominantly a positive one, although making judgments is difficult in a division where the top team has only dropped 4 points from a possible 27, and the bottom one secured just a single solitary point from 24.  Team spirit has remained excellent throughout, particularly in adversity, and on-field discipline much improved from last season too, which is equally encouraging.  Two January friendlies should keep the squad ticking over before the reverse round of fixtures recommence on January 18, but in the meantime there remains the re-arranged fixture mentioned above to negotiate.  Frustratingly, when the original match was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at the beginning of November, the then unbeaten Highwaymen had probably the strongest possible line-up of the season on paper ready to do battle against the Anchorians.  They now face a somewhat trickier fixture against a team with a better defensive record than their own.

Team:
Morton Stanton (GK), Tim Walters, Richard Cleall, Phil Kinch, Ed Smyth, Tony Mitchell, Gary Da Souza, Stephen Gilbert, Phil Bunker, Pat Gainey, Sammy Chana, Matt Robinson and Tony D'Cruz.

Man-of-the-match:
Ed Smyth - the stand-out performer for the team in the first half of the season had another cracking game at right-half, once again showing his versatility and class.  His richly-deserved first goal for the Club was just reward for his endeavours in a gallant, albeit losing, cause.

Umpires:
Seneka and the home umpire whistled well in what was a very fast-moving and competitive encounter played in a good spirit throughout.  No back-chat, cards or admonishments for the men in red for the full 70 minutes.