Copthorne 1 (1) v (0) 2 Godalming Town 1 – FA Vase
Before we go into Friday’s match we must go back to Saltdean last Saturday and record that it was Manager Mo Sher’s 50th game in charge. Congratulations, Mo has won 30 of those 50 with only 10 defeats, a great record. Google tells us only Mourinho, Conte (not at Spurs funnily enough), Ancelotti, Guardiola and Pelligrini (remind me – Italian sparking water?) managed to better 30 wins in their first 50 Premier League games. Here’s to Mo, his next 50 and many more.
The FA Vase brought us a Friday night away to Copthorne for the first of two games against them in 3 days. First question – hands up if you can remember Godalming Town winning their first 4 games of the season before? With a few knocks around the squad the starting lineup that achieved this feat saw Fabio Suarez in goal behind a back line of Malik Shittu, Rob Parrott, Elliot Creely and Jack Sherwood. Mark Soares started wide right with Deji Alabi out left, leaving Deji Adeosun, Elroy Wealthyland in midfield. Captain: Cam Edwin was set up behind Striker Will May. There were places on the bench for Jonny Miller, Louis Lindsay, Ollie Ballam, Nana Afful and James Mariner.
Tonight saw the debut of our new 2nd kit, a very smart ensemble comprising white shirts with fetching very thin black stripes, set off with white shorts and navy-blue socks. Copthorne were a tad behind in the fashion stakes sporting yellow shirts, with an awful lot of white in them, and white shorts that should have been yellow apparently. Anyway, the ref allowed things to go ahead although nearly not, as a first kick-off was taken and then the game stopped while some debate went on between Referee and one Linesman. This resulted in a second kick-off. The next 90 seconds saw the floodlights going on, Malik Shittu delivering a classy run and crossing into the empty box at one end, followed unfortunately at the other end by a low cross somehow eluding Fabio Suarez at the near post, and the Gee’s being 1-0 down. Not what the travelling faithful had on their Christmas lists.
Rob Parrott and then Mark Soares were upended, a free kick finally given for the 2nd challenge. Mark took the kick; Will May headed it across the area and Rob’s header found the crossbar, only for the Lino to have flagged him offside. Friday nights clearly didn’t agree with this official nor did the opinion of the crowd which was met with an invitation for us all to come on and do better. Mark and Malik were combining well down the right, a Soares shot finding the keeper’s arms. On the left Jack Sherwood also set up Mark, his effort gathered by the keeper at the 2nd attempt. A clearly offside Deji Alabi was given on but Cam, clearly onside, was given off as he received Deji’s pass, a decision adding to the frostiness along the touchline. Copthorne were forced into a substitution on 35 minutes when an attempt to take out Rob Parrott backfired on them.
Hearts were in mouths when Fabio Suarez jumped and clashed with an opponent following some scrappy play in our box. It didn’t look too good from the other end of the ground, but following a lengthy consultation between the officials no penalty was the decision. There was never any chance then of Deji Alabi getting a penalty just afterwards when he was downed in the other box, Cam shooting narrowly wide after picking up the loose ball. The 3rd chance of the evening for Copthorne was missed on the stroke of halftime as it ended 1-0 to the hosts.
One change in the lineup for the 2nd half saw Louis Lindsay replace Elroy Wealthyland. On the park Mark and Deji Alabi switched wings and Cam moved to a deeper role. The first incident after the restart saw Jack turn his man and be brought down for his efforts, no card. After 6 minutes Deji Alabi broke inside and found Mark Soares in space where he thumped the ball home for the equalizer, 1-1. Fabio tidied up from a break at the other end and Will May was next to hit the deck, a tackle that earned a free kick, no card, but a conversation between Ref and the Copthorne captain, who wasn’t involved in the challenge.
On to the 61st minute and Rob Parrott planted a ball from the right over to Will May lurking around the penalty spot. Will turned and put the ball away for 2-1; good to see him off the mark for the season. A card appeared, aimed at the home bench and as some jumping over the barrier followed it may have been a red one. Deji Alabi came off for Jonny Miller on 72 minutes and Mark Soares moved back to the right flank. Elliot Creely, quietly getting on with his job throughout the game, spun a ball out wide to Mark who ran into the box and was unlucky to see his effort rebound off the near post. To the surprise of us all, Mark Soares was booked for a minor tussle / piece of shirt pulling and Will joined him, apparently for disputing an offside call? Nana Afful came on for Malik Shittu, who’d worked his socks off for 88 minutes.
There was time for Mark Soares to entertain us with a ‘keepie up’ dribble into the box, winning a corner. Another challenge on Will finally saw a yellow card for the Copthorne Captain. James Mariner replaced Will in the 93rd minute and another foul on Mark witnessed the merest hint of some ‘handbags’ before the whistle blew at 96.36 minutes precisely according to the electronic scoreboard. Another good team performance, especially after going behind again.
All set up nicely then for game 2 and Copthorne’s league visit to The Bill Kyte on Bank Holiday Monday, an 11am kick off.
COYG’s