Godalming Town 2 (2) v (1) 2 Eversley and California – League
Off the field matters first and at the Club AGM held last Thursday Tony Roberts was officially confirmed as the new Chairman of Godalming Town Football Club. Tony is no stranger to the Club, and we can look forward to further success with him at the helm. Matt Clay, as Chairman, and Jo Fox have stepped down from their positions, and both are owed considerable thanks and gratitude for keeping the Club’s head above water and the wolves from the door for the last eight plus years. Thank you both, some nice new floodlights and a Championship Trophy last season are a great legacy to leave with.
On the field matters next and after 90 minutes we had witnessed not so much a game of two halves, but one of 15 minutes of Gees total dominance that was followed by 75 minutes of the not so good. The usual combination of knocks and holidays brought changes from Tuesday’s line up. Stephen Douglas was there in goal with Nana Afful, Bertie Saunders and Eliott Creeley across a back four, completed with Evan Kelly coming in at left back. Sam Fernley moved forward to a wide left midfield berth. Cameron Edwin returned from suspension to skipper the side in front of the back four where he was flanked by Mark Soares and Deji Alabi. That left Dan Boyden on the right with Shane Johnson up front. Waiting in the wings were five substitutes, four of whom were Luca Le Page, Diego Bruno, Danillo Carvalho and Tom Christmas. The fifth was a surprise in the form of an old favourite, goalkeeper Adrian Giles, back providing some cover and coaching.
Rarely have a Godalming side enjoyed such rich pickings from the start of a match. Seconds in and a free kick was awarded their way, Mark Soares sent it into the box, and the Eversley keeper was mighty fortunate to get to the ball in front of three yellow shirts. In the fourth minute Sam Fernley unleased a shot coming in from the left which was deflected out for a throw in. The ball was thrown back to Sam who ran toward goal and was upended in the box. Stonewall penalty given and duly converted by Mark Soares for an early lead. Straight back on the attack after the restart Dan Boyden unleashed a shot which the keeper smothered at the second attempt. To the 9th minute and Mark picked up the ball on halfway, fed it left for Deji Alabi who delivered a peach of a pass to Shane Johnson to score a second goal. 2-0 Gees.
Eversley were nowhere to be seen, Dan Boyden and Mark to name just two were running them ragged. Dan and Sam set up another chance for Shane which was cleared. Mark then turned provider to Shane, but his shot was carted away to the touchline. Deji popped up on the right and found Evan Kelly who could only direct his effort wide. I cannot recall when we have witnessed such a one-side opening spell. Eversley finally crossed the halfway line in the 12th minute, and it wasn’t for long. Shane picked up a long ball but was called offside. Mark, and then Dan had goal-bound shots blocked. Bizarrely an innocuous challenge on halfway saw Nana presented with a yellow card. The resulting Eversley free kick broke down completely, Dan brought the ball up field, Sam’s cross was half cleared and fell to Cam, you couldn’t blame him for having a go, but the ball sailed over the bar.
And then it kind of stopped. The Gees’ impetus just dispersed somewhere, and the game seemed to be being played 20 yards deeper toward Dougie’s area. Just before the half hour Eversley mounted their first serious foray towards the Godalming goal with Eliott Creeley on hand to cut the ball out. It wasn’t as if we stopped creating chances though and Bernie Saunders, up in the area for a Deji free kick, came close with a header. Eversley managed another shot, over the bar on 39 minutes. Gees retaliated winning a corner, and as it came over Evan went down in the box; no penalty but he copped a yellow card for diving. We move to three minutes to half time and while the Gees were down to 10 men with Sam Fernley on the sidelines for treatment, we conceded a goal too much like that one on Tuesday. A ball into the area crying out for a boot to ‘get rid’ didn’t get one and ended up in the net. Half time 2-1.
No changes as we kicked off the second half and sadly it was to be 45 minutes of as you were, a repeat of the preceding thirty minutes of play. Let’s jump to the final whistle and not for the first game ever I was asked, ‘Are you doing the report today?’ When you own up, you know the next bit that follows on days like these goes ‘Well good luck making something out of that (expletive deleted – this is Surrey and we all blush easily).
The lowlight of the half, with 15 minutes remaining, came after Deji Alabi had little choice but to take a yellow for the team on the halfway line in stopping an Eversley attack. From the resulting free kick an opposition player stood alone around our left goalpost, got his head to the ball, which lopped over Dougie and hey presto it’s 2-2. Not much else to say about the half otherwise, a few half chances to the Gees, Dan Boyden taking yet another yellow to prevent yet another breakaway, an Eversley dive in the box, but this time with no card shown and, in the final minute, a 4 v 3 Eversley attack with a shot that ended up thankfully over the bar.
So where did it go wrong? And why was only one substitute used? And that’s coming from me who thinks the game has been devalued by having five subs available. Mind you, what a thought, just imagine Gilesy coming on up front to lead the line and score the winner! Next, you’ll be believing that Rob Parrott once played in goal and won a penalty shoot-out!
But seriously. what we do know is that we have a battle on our hands this season and anyone who was naïve enough to believe differently and can’t take the heat perhaps should read Hendo’s excellent Twenty Yard Screamer in the Eversley match programme and head off for the comfort of the nearest ‘Hobby Club’.
Otherwise, do the right thing, stay and keep the faith.
COYGs