Report

A match today against our old rivals Larkspur.
We always have a good battle against them and today was no exception.

Needless to say there was the usual -healthy banter- between spectators and linesman on both sides and I guessed we could have some interesting decisions from the ref after it was announced he was the Larkspur linesman-s brother.

We arrived nice and early for a 9.45 kick off. Larkspur were so keen for the early start that nets were fixed to the wrong pitch.
Somehow Northolt appeared to be about 10 degrees colder than Ruislip.
The nets were moved from a flat muddy pitch to a sloping muddy pitch and away we went.

The pitch proved testing from the start, DeVito, Mike, James and Mike J were struggling to get control of midfield and Larkspur were playing quite high and Jack and Lee were getting caught offside on regular occasions.
We were playing ok but got caught with a through ball from a free kick with the forward getting beyond us and firing past Aidan. 0 - 1
We were back in it after a corner from Michael J found DeVito who stabbed the ball home after a couple of attempts. 1 - 1

Larkspur were struggling to contain us and we missed a couple of good chances but then Larkspur broke away again and scored a particularly lucky goal with the ball spinning in after a deflection. 1 - 2

Undeterred we again equalised just before the break after a replica of our first goal with DeVito firing home after a corner. 2 - 2

Half Time 2 - 2

More of the same throughout the second half with Harry, Michael Gilbey, Anthony and Jamie looking fairly comfortable with Aidan rarely troubled.
We missed some good gilt edged chances before Lee crashed home a fantastic goal from all of 25 yards leaving the keeper helpless.
Great Goal. 3 - 2

It looked like we would see it home despite some very dodgy refereeing decisions, one of which was to prove costly.
he awarded a corner against when it looked like a goal kick.
Some sloppy defending saw us fail to clear the corner and some how the ball found itself in our net. 3 - 3

Our squad was tested to the full again today with our injury and illness situation meaning that we were unable to make substitutions and I think we did tire a little towards the end - our work rate was high on a very tiring pitch - well done lads, great effort.

Disappointing in the end because we are clearly a better team than Larkspur.

Team today

Goal - Aidan McLucas
Back Four - Harry Budd, Michael Gilbey, Anthony Furlong, Jamie Budd
Midfield - DeVito, Michael Holmes, James Haddock, Michael Jeffries.
Front Two - Lee Byrne and Jack Taylor.

Sub - Elliott Riley.

Last season we effectively finished 3rd after losing our play off decider but were still awarded promotion.
Today-s result means that we have now played both of the teams who finished above us twice each, Ruislip Rangers and Larkspur, and won 2 and drawn 2 losing none.
I think that shows how much we have progressed this season - well done everybody.

Also Bessingby have reached the final of The County Cup, so it could be that we were beaten by the ultimate Winners.

USUAL REMINDERS:-

THURSDAY - TRAINING 6.00 - 7.00
SATURDAY - TRAINING 9.30 - 11.00
SUNDAY - MATCH - ST LAWRENCE - HOME - 11.00 KICK OFF