Godalming Town 0 (0) v (1) 3 Javis Brook – League

“Reports are coming in that 469 people turned out for a Party in Farncombe on Saturday afternoon only for a Football Match to break out in the middle of it”.

What a day, the match being almost an irrelevance to it. The result makes it sound like having won the league last weekend Godalming couldn’t be bothered to stir themselves for this one. To the contrary, as they could have been three goals to the good themselves in first 20 minutes.

Let’s set the scene before we come to the game itself and applaud another fantastic effort by everyone backstage at GTFC. Lucy and Pete Ballam had in the space of some four days acquired commemorative First Team shirts to celebrate Godalming Town F.C’s. crowning as the Southern Combination Division One Champions 2025/26. Let’s read that bit again, that sounds good, doesn’t it. The shirts look the business, maybe a snug fit for some of us civilians, nothing a healthy diet or Ozempic won’t cure, I’m sure.

Early doors, up on the pitch, Mo assembled his players and staff. One after another, following Mo’s individual words of praise to each in front of the Group, they were presented with their numbered shirt from the ‘Ballam Collection’ before all gathering in front of the Main Stand for the team picture, complete with Championship banner. Great scenes, great bunch. Playing or not the whole squad was there and included Matt Cox, Ali Haddadji, Ollie Ballam, James Frudd, Sam Fearnley, Elroy Wealthyland and Jack (I’m still unbeaten!) Sherwood, all who have all contributed to this massive season. Sincere apologies if I’ve omitted anyone.

So, to the match itself. All credit and thanks to Jarvis Brook who lined up for a guard of honour as the ‘Champions’ took the field. ‘Champions’ – it must be true as it said it on the back of our shirts, either that or it’s the first match ever played with 16 players of the same surname. Stephen Douglas was in goal with Nana Afful, Rob Parrott, Eliott Creely and Malik Shittu across the back. James Mariner, Captain, took his place in the middle with Cam Edwin and Deji Adeosun. Mark Soares and Malachi Thomas were wide in support of Will May. Five on the bench: Ollie McAleese, Jonny Miller, Deji Alabi, Louis Lindsay and Conor Stillwell.

The first chance of the match was created by the visitors in a slick little move that ended with a shot going wide. After that the Gees took control. Will May and Mark Soares combined to set up Cam, whose shot was cleared. The same combination then gave Malachi a chance, but the keeper produced a fine save at the expense of a corner. Rob Parrott was just short of connecting as the corner came over. The Jarvis No.1 then pulled off another save to thwart Cam’s header from a Deji cross. Eliott took a free kick on the halfway line, Rob latched on to the keeper’s punch, played the ball to the feet of Mark and Will hit the cross over the bar.

Three Gees corners followed in quick succession. Cam picked up the first to see his effort deflected for a second corner. Eliott’s header was cleared from the third and Malachi started and ended a move with Rob by shooting a foot over the bar. Mazza set up Mark for a long distance effort from fully 35 yards, but the keeper saved again to prevent what would have been a spectacular goal. On 24 minutes a speculative Jarvis high ball fell in between Dougie and Rob. Dougie was honest enough later to admit he should have dealt with it better and two forwards played a one two as the ball came back down to score for the visitors, much against the run of the play. Cam had a chance to equalise after Will’s effort seemed to rebound from the keeper, but it wasn’t to be and as the clock wound down to the break, we witnessed the odd sight of the Gees playing balls across the back trying to find an opening, Premier League style. 0-1 at half time.

As you were for the second half, but a change was forced on Mo and Co. by an injury to Elliot Creely after 54 minutes which saw him replaced by Ollie McAleese. Again, we saw the Jarvis goalie get to a free kick at the expense of another corner. Mazza got the header in, but the ball went a few inches over the bar. 61 minutes and Mazza and Nana came off for Deji Alabi and a fit again Jonny Miller. Malik went to right back in a three man defence to take the game to Jarvis Brook. Jonny soon won a corner which came out to Malachi, Will connected to the cross, but his header went past the post. One day a bumper crowd at Wey Court will be treated to a Godalming goal fest but this was just not going to be that day. With 15 minutes remaining Louis Lindsay replaced Malachi. Deji Alabi then had a very speculative shout for a penalty turned down. 10 minutes left and a Gees free kick in a promising position broke down and allowed Jarvis Brook to storm down the other end of the park, a tidy cross from our left found a totally unmarked blue shirt and suddenly it was 2-0.

Mark, who had taken a knock in our own area came off for Conor Stillwell for the final substitution and Rob Parrott was pretty much staying up front in an effort to salvage something. That plan was really scuppered when, so out of character, Deji Adeosun conjured up a crazy, crazy own goal for 3-0! Jarvis Brook even had the ball in the net a fourth time, but it was ruled out for a foul in the build-up. Strangely, in a ‘not that sort of game’ Jarvis’ No.7 even managed to see out the match from the sinbin. The final Gee’s chance fell to Rob but again the visiting keeper excelled himself.

The whistle blew, the result was forgotten, (although I’ll wager not by Mo) and it was time for the party to reignite. Things kept appearing on the pitch. A Cup came out from somewhere, joined by medals, flares, cigars, children on shoulders being paraded around, even the odd dog too. ‘Champagne’ that had certainly never seen France, was sprayed everywhere and even stranger drinks, no doubt as potent as they looked, filled the Cup. And it continued for a goodly while that evening.

A whole bunch of you, players, management and all the roles behind the scenes deserve an awful lot of credit for what has been achieved this season, and a very big Thank You.

So, Thank You.

COYG’s

(And don’t forget the season finale at Worthing next week).