Little Common 1 (1) v (0) 1 Godalming Town 2 – FA Vase
(Little Common won 4-1 on penalties)

So, the Gs run of winning 11 matches in a row in all competitions came to an end at Little Common after a hard game against opposition from the middle of the Premier League table. But it was a close encounter that could only be settled by a penalty shootout and could have gone the way of the Gs with a little luck from the footballing gods. It underlines that the current Gs squad is able to take on opposition from the Premier League and more than just give a good account of themselves. It is testimony to this that we felt disappointment in not winning.

A very healthy number of Gs supporters made their longest trip Eastwards down the A27 for this season to Little Common for the first time of meeting I believe. Mo explained that there were a few players missing on top of those who were injured. A good-looking pitch with plenty of grass and an interesting slope from one wing to the other. And a bar selling Scampi Fries amongst other things! That certainly sets it above the norm.

With Will May away on holiday and Nasim Regragui being unwell on the day, meant that it was Deji Alabi, who led the attack with Jonny Miller wide on the left side and Mark Soares on the right. Cameron Edwin was wearing the captain’s arm band and the number ten shirt, Deji Adeosun in the midfield in front of Ali Haddadji protecting the back four, which consisted of Elliott Creely and Rob Parrott as the centre backs and Alex Afful right wing back and Jack Sherwood the left. Stephen Douglas in goal. On the bench were Matt Cox, Elroy Wealthyland, Malik Shittu and Louis Lindsey.

Within moments of the starting whistle Cam brought a save from the home keeper (apparently a loanee from Eastbourne Borough several leagues above and played a significant part in the result), before being flagged as offside.

The home side won a couple of corners that were dealt with despite Little Common featuring a number of very tall players. From the second corner we saw the Gs break quickly and Deji Adeosun played a good early ball down the wing to feed Mark who controlled it well, before playing it forward to Alex who had made a great run overtaking Mark, before hitting a great shot, but just too high.

Rob was shown a yellow card for a tackle, which seemed extremely soft and shortly afterwards Mark was taken down late and the ref gave another yellow to the home side, A sign of things to come I am afraid.

Mercurial Mark was as dangerous as always in attack and went close with a long-range effort.

A great build up down the left this time ended with Jack Sherwood delivering a terrific ball just above head height into the penalty area and Cam was there to meet it, but his glancing header went just wide of the upright.

Within half an hour we saw at least four yellow cards issued and maybe more, but for rather strange challenges, while others were ignored. All rather strange.

Shortly after that the predicted light rain started and, rather against the run of play, the home side delivered a high ball from wide out on the right, towards the Gs penalty area, where the Little Common centre forward had a free header that looped high towards the goal and although Stephen did not look far off his line the ball somehow went over him into the net to open the scoring, to the joy of the home supporters, who had had little cheer up until then.

 The Gs are used to having to come back and went straight back on the attack.

 Meanwhile the referee was still issuing yellow cards to some and ignoring others. It seemed Mark got shown one when as the smallest guy on the pitch he went for a fifty/fifty ball with a home defender twice his size, who went sprawling dramatically, but was none the worse for wear it turned out.

 As the threatened rain came, so did the half-time whistle and the players trooped off with the score at 1- 0 to the home side. Other than their goal I don’t recall another serious chance that the home side had created. So, I am sure the lads were as frustrated as their supporters were. Having had most of the first half possession and territory. It seemed that just the final pass, or shot was missing for the Gs.

Cam who had covered every blade of grass as usual made an energetic run down the left at the foot of the slope and as he cut into the box under the attentions of a couple of defenders he was brought down as he made it towards the goal line. The referee pointed to the spot. Mark unfortunately pulled his low and hard shot just wide of the upright. So, the score remained the same.

 But, only three minutes later Mark himself got to the same spot on the goal line where Cam had been fouled before, superbly chipping the ball in over the home keeper’s head and into the goal at the back post. A magnificent reply and now 1 -1 the score. Both goals from positions where you would not have thought it possible to score.

The home side now were clearly upping their game and did start to create some more chances. But the ref was still giving strange decisions. Cam produced a fine sliding tackle that cleared the ball neatly away from the edge of the Gs area, only to be penalised. 

Then Elliott received a blow to his face and received treatment from Steve (Phys) for what appeared to be a bang on the nose. He continued some treatment at the dugout, so the Gs were down to ten men. When Elliott and the Gs management signalled that he was ready to return to the field of play the ref denied it for some time, demanding he could not return until there was a stoppage in play. First time I have seen that. There were so many yellow cards I lost count. It was not a dirty game by any means.

Matt Cox came on to give Alex a break and was soon involved in some good work down the right, but the final ball was never quite good enough.

Louis then came on to replace Ali and soon after Deji limped off for Malik the recent “goal machine” to bring his skills onto the pitch and hopefully finish it for the Gs. . Clearly Deji was seriously struggling with his left leg well strapped up. It looked like Louis was then sent up front, while Jonny moved to a more central position.

 With the aid of some good work by Matt, Jonny, and Rob of course (what was he doing going down the wing?)  playing some tempting balls across the box, but this time unfortunately the timing did not quite work. Malik agonisingly close, but could not get to them.

 Cam received a yellow card at some stage like almost everyone else on the pitch. In fact, I was a bit disappointed not to get one myself.

 So, it went to the dreaded shoot out. All credit to those who agreed to take a penalty. Mark again led the line and this time brought a terrific save out of the home sides keeper. Their number nine went first and scored. Jack then went next for the Gs. Again, the big loanee keeper made a cracking save. They scored again, leaving it all down to Rob Parrott to keep the lads in the hunt. Rob blasted confidently and although the keeper got a hand to it, Rob, so often the Gs talisman, scored. He took a bow in front of the home teenage Ultra’s. Unfortunately, their next player also scored ending the drama. 

So, the unbeaten run in everything ended, but the performance was still great from the whole squad and on another day – who knows what the outcome would have been. It has and continues to be a fantastic start to the season. Unbelievable “Roy of the Rovers” stuff from the Gs. A joy to be a supporter. Anyone who doesn’t know who Roy of the Rovers was can see me at the next game for an explanation.

 Anyway, now it is time to get thinking about Tuesday at Dorking back in the League. COYG’s