Forest Row 1 (1) v (0) 1 Godalming Town

Arriving at the East Grinstead ground (where Forest Row now play) reminded me of the last time I think the Gs were there, it was a memorable game that the Gs won against East Grinsted 4-2 . It was also memorable for two talismanic Gs legends. One on the pitch, in Graeme Purdy who scored a brace on the day, while the heavens opened and the pitch became a mud bath.  The other was “Shorts Man”  Dave Fiddler who, while all other spectators had sought out the cover from the stands, stood stoically for the game on the opposite side of the pitch.

There was no rain this time, when we arrived. But it was to come.

The Gs line up was changed again with a new name in Matt Kellett-Smith up front alongside Rob Parrott with Cameron Edwin and Jonny Miller in the wide positions. Conor Stillwell was in the middle with James Mariner in front of a back four comprising Alex Afful in the right back position and Jack Sherwood on the left with the centre back pairing of Ollie McAleese and Shi Ndiulor in front of Ryan O Sullivan in goal.

A very strong bench in Deji Alabi, James Mansfield, Malik Shittu, Elroy Wealthyland and Shi O’Connor.

Once again the Gs started well with the new more attacking line up. Jonny Miller put in a great run down the left and forced a corner, which he delivered in well and Ollie Mc Aleese in space, got his left foot to it, but his first time attempt just cleared the bar.

Then a great early through ball from Shi set up Conor as he advanced into the area, but although he had a defender with him he still laid the ball off to an advancing Rob who unfortunately was unable to get his shot on target.

After 15 minutes it was clear that the Forest Row side are quite an improved side to the one we have seen in the past few seasons and they produced a diagonal ball across the back of the Gs defence to their number seven advancing at pace. He was able to conjure up a cross towards the Gs box, which was just blocked by an outstretched leg of Jack Sherwood turning it around for a corner. The corner came in just under the bar and Ryan comfortably tipped it over resulting in a corner from the other side for the home team. This was delivered in hard just above the heads of defenders, until it was met by a Forest Row head at close range driving the ball into the net. A well taken goal, but the first proper attack that the home side had created.

The Gs were back in the ascendancy as soon as the game restarted, but could not generate a shot on target.

A long quick clearance kick from Ryan then found Rob upfront, but the home keeper was quickly out to dive and smother his shot.

Matt created a good attempt from the edge of the area, but again the home keeper did well to parry the shot away.

After two quick tackles from behind on Rob the ref blew for the second one and the ball was kicked back into the melee of players that had assembled. Not sure if it did not hit the ref as well. Both assistants were called to converse with the ref.  The outcome was a yellow card for Ollie Mc Aleese  and the home number 4 was sin binned for his interventions with 5 – 10 minutes left of the half.

Shi then picked up a yellow card for a tackle that seemed not that different to many others that went unpunished.

Moments before half time Ryan was called upon to dive and push the ball around from a low shot when the home side attacked on the break.

Half time arrived. And so did the rain.

The players came out for the restart in the rain. The referee and one of his assistants were looking at a corner of the pitch on the Gs right flank. Attention was drawn to a particular area close to the corner, which was extremely soft. In the end most of the players left the pitch again. People arrived with forks and tried draining the area. Finally the players came back out and lined up to restart. The ref then had a look at Ryan’s goalmouth and then disappeared into the changing rooms tunnel again without the lino’s understanding what was going on, let alone the players, much to their obvious frustration.

One of the Forest Row’s players from the bench wielded a fork on Ryan’s goal area. After a few minutes it seems all was up to the referee’s satisfaction and play finally restarted with the Gs having the soft area of pitch on their right flank in front of the stands.

Clearly the pitch was substantially wetter than it was at the start, as both keepers slipped when trying to make clearances.

The Gs got more chances, but did not create any clear shots on target. Conor also got a yellow card.

Another good attack from the Gs saw Jonny Miller and Matt combine well before they set up the advancing Jack Sherwood for a good shot, which just whizzed over the bar.

A few more yellow cards to the home side.

Cam and Matt who both had good games were replaced by Deji and Elroy.

 We do not seem to get many of the 50-50 decisions from the ref and I think that Jack must have said something as the ref showed him a red card and insisted that the game did not restart until he had made it to the changing rooms.

 Jack Sherwood then got a yellow card. Not long after Rob Parrott got one as well.

Malik then joined the fray replacing Alex who had been covering in the right back position.

The Gs kept pressing and Deji found a chance for a shot that bounced in front of the keeper, but he recovered the ball.

Rob Parrott came off, as did Mazza, to be replaced by Shi O’Connor and James Mansfield.

James got straight into the game and with only minutes left joined another build up on the left hand side before hitting a low shot that the home keeper could not hold and it went in at the near post to the relief of all the G supporters. Another last minute goal from young James to bring the scores level.

So, with only a few minutes to play the Gs came out of the game with a point, which to me was well deserved. They had far more chances and shots which their keeper did well to save. An all round great  improvement on recent games and frustrating to see how we can compete with the better sides in the League and yet still struggle with results against the lower teams.

Next up for the Gs a trip away again, this time in the third round of the Peter Bentley cup against Wick on Tuesday. With the number of cards picked up today we might find a few regulars missing the next game.

 COYG’s