G’s Break Draw Hoodoo – Oakley Scores on Debut

Report by Graham Harris
Godalming 1 (1) v ( 0) 0 Hailsham
The G’s broke their draw hoodoo, clocked three points again and kept a clean sheet this afternoon. So, nothing to complain about there. It was also a good performance. In fact, the performance in the first half was so dominant the lads could easily have gone into the break 2- 3 goals up. But they failed to take many of the chances on offer.
We have seen plenty of games in the past where, failing to take chances has left the G’s to take nothing. At the end of the day the only thing that counts is a ball in the net.
It was an exciting game and a good introduction to the Bill Kyte Stadium for Charlie Oakley who seemed sharp from the first whistle. He opened his account well with a good finish in the first half. The Gods may have been smiling on the G’s for once as, having celebrated the goal, they saw the referee go to speak to his linesman in front of the stand, who had flagged for an offside some time before the ball went in. I was on the opposite side of the pitch, so have no idea what was said, but from the gestures it looked like there was some debate about whether the player in an offside position was active, or not. Anyway, in the end the ref was happy to let the goal stand.
Inside the first 7 minutes Charlie hit a shot that went over the bar and Sam Boultwood also crashed through the middle before hitting a shot, but unfortunately straight at the keeper. The visitors found themselves getting beaten to the ball, defending desperately and the G’s just kept attacking. My notes show.
20 mins in Sam Boultwood again having a low shot that this time just went past the post.
10 minutes later Charlie got his goal.
2minutes later a curling free kick from Elijah went just wide of the far post.
38 minutes. A throw from Lucca gets a good flick on from Kurt and somehow it went tantalisingly across the face of the goal. Connor Blanchard seemed to be brought down in the area, but nothing was given.
45 minutes Connor intercepted a poor back pass in the Hailsham area, but could not find the space to capitalise.
I think that in that first half the visitors only managed one blocked attempted shot. 1-0 to the G’s at half time. It should have ben more.
After the break the G’s were still attacking. But Hailsham were much improved.
The first card of the game went to Hailsham No7 for a tackle on Luke Beale.
A second yellow followed not long after for the Hailsham No 5 for a late tackle on Connor Blanchard. Shortly after that Charlie cut in on the right of the visitor’s goal and hit a powerful shot that was well saved and beaten away by the visiting keeper. I think he will be pleased with his performance.
15 minutes in to the second half Boults was taken off to bring on James Frudd, who has played so well recently. Elijah was also taken off to allow Jahobi to come on. This meant that Kurt, who had played a very effective role as the target man up front, was asked to drop into the midfield as he has done before.
The G’s got a couple of headers on target from a corner, but the ball just would not go over the line. As the ball came out Bealer managed to spin and hit a shot. But again, it was blocked.
Hailsham were now starting to find themselves with more space in the midfield. Coxey had to be at his best to cover the long diagonal balls that were being floated in to the space behind the G’s defensive line.
Fruddy was showing a clean pair of heels to the visiting defence and again nicked the ball a couple of times out wide and managed some good crosses into the box, but the G’s forwards could not quite make contact.
Fruddy went into the ref’s book for a rash tackle after he had chased back half of the pitch.
It was getting a bit tense at times, as it does when you only have a one goal lead. We kept thinking that second goal must come and would give us a safety margin and a little comfort. But, despite a better second half performance from Hailsham they produced no real clear chances that bothered Adrian too much.
In the end the G’s were cheered off by their supporters relieved I suspect that they hung on to claim all the points after a few games where we also should have done so.
The team:
Adrian Giles was in goal. Matt Cox, Luke Beale (Captain), Ollie McAlesse and Lucca Scanella as the back four, Rob Parrott, Elijah Carter (Jahobi Maher) and Sam Boultwood (James Frudd) in the middle. Charlie Oakley up front with Connor Blanchard (Connor Young) and Kurt Greenaway the wide players.
On the bench:- John Coussens, Jahobi Maher, James Colinese, James Frudd and Connor Young.
A game on Tuesday night against Ash United in the Aldershot Senior Cup, then a week off before we meet Selsey on the 27th at The Bill Kyte Stadium. Let’s hope that brings us another three points. No reason why it should not.
COYG’s.

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