Sat 11th Aug: Premier Division
Bromley Green 0
|
Cray Valley (PM) 2
S.O'Keefe
P.Eagle |
The official start of the football season. While Spurs were losing, at newly promoted Sunderland and West Ham were beaten at home by Sven's Manchester City we travelled to Ashford to play last season's runners up Bromley Green.
A new look Cray Valley side which included 4 new debutants opened their campaign with a hard earned 2-0 victory. From the first whistle it was apparent that both sides were only interested in winning and the commitment certainly challenged the referee's authority.
Bromley Green showed well in the early exchanges and only some fine saves by last season's reserve keeper Ricky Garrett ensured the scores stayed level. Midway through the first half Dean White made a rash challenge in the penalty area which resulted in the referee awarding a spot kick. Fortunately for us Ricky guessed right and made a tremendous save diving low to his left-hand side, pushing the ball away for a corner.
This appeared to spur the Cray players on and following a free kick just outside the area by Phil Eagle, Dean (who at times looked liked he was actually playing for Bromley Green) ducked under the ball but luckily Sean O'Keefe was behind him and he headed the ball past Bromley Green's stranded keeper. We then witnessed what will probably be the celebration of the season as an ecstatic O'Keefe "sprinted" the length of the pitch clearly overjoyed with scoring but without really knowing how to celebrate properly. There were no cartwheels but we had to look twice to make sure it was Sean that had actually scored. Surely that was the fastest he'd ever sprinted!
Bromley Green pressed for an equaliser, and David Panetta was taken out by a waist high tackle by a Bromley Green mid-fielder. The players and supporters of both sides were convinced that a red card was to be shown but instead the referee only issued a yellow. Even more bizarrely, in the melee that followed, after consulting with the assistant referee Rickie Lewis was dismissed for a second bookable offence for an off the ball incident!
We managed to hold out until half-time with a one goal advantage.
With the extra player Bromley Green started the second half strongly as a tactical change at half-time saw Paul Lyons replaced by Dean Flood, playing his first game for five months following a knee injury. We resorted to a 3-5-1 formation with Matt Knuckey leading the line on his own. Around 15 minutes into the second half Bromley Green's Cooke made a reckless challenge on Dean Flood and was dismissed for a second bookable offence.
With the numbers now even Bromley continued to press for an equaliser but Ricky kept them out with another fine save. We rode our luck and with 10 minutes to go a long range shot struck the underside of the bar, hit Ricky on the back of his leg and rolled agonisingly past the post for a corner. On another day it may have rolled into the open goal!
With the home side chasing the game, gaps started to appear and when Phil Eagle picked up a square ball from Matt Knuckey he advanced 10 yards and smashed the ball into the corner. Game over!
Deep into injury time Phil Eagle decided he would still try to pick up his statutory booking by arguing with the referee about how long was left. Fortunately for Phil the referee just ignored him so he decided he would continue his debate with an empty coke can on the halfway line!
A great result for us but we are not getting carried away as with a relatively new team a lot more work is required.
Team - Garrett, O'Keefe, Vale, Lewis, White (Captain), Ismael, Panetta, Eagle, Knuckey, Lyons (Flood), Bryant (Jefferies).
S. Chapman - Cray Valley (PM) FC |
