Godalming Town 0 (0) v (2) 3 Infinity 3 – Southern Combination Div 1 – League
An attendance of 261 rocked up to the Bill Kyte Stadium for the visit of Infinity. Thank you all, but it so often seems to be the case that in front of a large crowd the team under performs. Saturday, I think we can all agree, saw the worst performance of the season. It may only be the second league defeat for the Gees this campaign but the manner of it was concerning. I have just received a message from a longtime supporter, (who of course will remain nameless) and their chosen adjective was ‘appalling’.
Steve Douglas was unavailable and his place in goal was taken by Temitayo Edun who has come over from Reigate Priory. Welcome, Temitayo. As we lined up it appeared that the intention was to play a back three of Rob Parrott, Joe Moriarty and Elliot Creely with Nana Afful playing wider and further forward. James Mariner was Skipper and was posted in front of the three. The midfield comprised Jonny Miller out on the left, with Cameron Edwin and Deji Adeosun more central, leaving Tayo Adekoya and Will May as the front men. Having unavoidably missed the last three games I have failed you all by spending the pre-match catching up with the regular mob and not discussing with Mo and Co. three-man defences or why Mark Soares was on the bench. However, there Mark was, alongside Ollie McAleese, James Frudd, Louis Lindsay and Elroy Wealthyland.
The first half chance of the game fell to Godalming from a Tayo run on goal, he chested down a through ball and was taken out. Johnny Miller took the free kick, but Rob Parrott struggled to keep the ball down. Games usually ebb and flow between the two teams, but the 45 minutes that followed saw Infinity have, by some margin, the greater possession. Early on though, as a marker to an incident that occurred later in the half, the Referee ‘played on’ a clear foul on Tayo where no advantage ensued, the first of several similar decisions. Two long attempts on goal by Infinity went wide and high and Temitayo was called on to smother the ball in front of an Infinity forward. Infinity won their first corner on 18 minutes, from that set piece the second and then third corners followed, the last being headed over by Infinity for a goal kick.
Another chance did fall Godalming’s way but not until the 27th minute, Nana fed Tayo on the right and Rob was just short of picking up Tayo’s cross. Infinity thumped a free kick into the wall and won two more corners before some theatrical falling to the ground saw Cam pulled up for a strong tackle. Corner number six for Infinity led to their first goal on 35 minutes. Rob cleared the corner, but it sat sweetly for an opponent to smack it into the net from 30 yards, no chance for the new keeper. I remember when we used to score goals like that but to do so you need to be exerting pressure up in the opposition half, something that the Gees had thus far failed to do. Johnny Miller took a knock on 40 minutes, not too serious we hope, and had to be replaced, Mark Soares coming on.
With a couple of minutes to half time Elliot Creely was called on to clear a ball bouncing around far too closely to the goal line for comfort. Then followed the one incident that just might, possibly, maybe have changed the game. The ball was picked up by Cam who flew down the right touchline and turned left along the goal line where he was upended fully 5 yards into the area. Penalty. No, Mr. ‘Play on’ in black brought the play back for some Infinity infringement conveniently outside the box. Mark did his best with the free kick from an acute angle forcing a save from the keeper and presenting Godalming with their first corner. Into injury time Infinity broke forward again and scored their second goal as Temitayo opted to come out to the advancing forward, who rounded him with the open goal in front of him. Still time for two more Infinity corners before the whistle blew. Let’s do a rare thing and be honest, 0-2 was a true reflection of the half we had seen. Cue 15 minutes of Gallows Humour before the 2nd half began. You have to laugh or you’d cry!
No changes at half time despite the management having an on-pitch Council of War before going into the dressing room. The first chance of the half fell to Infinity, Elliot clearing the lines. Rob Parrott led the way down the left and won a second corner of the game for Godalming, but a foul was called against them as it came into the box. 52 minutes and, without much sign of contact, Mark received a yellow card for a high kick and his opponent the Oscar. Tayo went on a run down the left, cut inside and delivered a shot which passed the near post. He then went closer when he smacked a good ball from Mark goal bound and was so unlucky to see his effort hit and then rebound off the far post to safety.
It had been a better Gees start to the half, but it soon petered out and Infinity were controlling the game again. A very good side this Infinity, but their wailing and whining is something to behold. We had some good-natured banter with their No.5 on the subject. He declared he’d just joined them and the antics were new to him. Bless him, he soon showed why he had been on their shopping list with a fine ‘curl up and die’ following a vigorous but fair tackle by Deji. 60 minutes on the clock and Fruddy and Elroy replaced Mazza and Nana, and on 74 minutes, Louis replaced Will. Ollie Mc. came on for Tayo in the final few minutes but by that time it was 3-0 when a poor clearance was returned low into the box and an Infinity foot got the first touch. Bookings for Deji and Cam after some ‘handbags’ and the visitors should really have scored a fourth goal with two good chances thankfully spurned in the final ten minutes.
I’ll say no more other than ‘we go again’ 7.45pm on Tuesday night for the visit of Billingshurst to the Bill Kyte.
COYG’s