Badshot Lea 1 (0) v (0) 1 Godalming Town – League
Tuesday night’s visit to near neighbours Badshot Lea was an entertaining encounter, ultimately with the points shared by a Badshot goal after Godalming had taken the lead. Some were heard to say this was two points dropped but I shall beg to differ.
The Gees lineup featured only nine of Saturday’s squad of sixteen and included five debutants amongst the fifteen men named. If I were a bit more diligent, I would have spotted these new faces on FA Full Time before the game, but I didn’t and so, like the majority of the away support, I was left to speculate. Our shirt numbers caused Badshot Lea a problem too. Their team whiteboard is permanently numbered 1 to 20 and as we never line up wearing 1 to 11, they had to explain many times that a name in green pen is for a ‘Starter’ and black pen is for a ‘Substitute’, so I assume a number with no name means ‘shirt in the wash’.
To that line up then: In goal Stephen Douglas returned, with Bertie Saunders coming in at centre back alongside Elliot Creely. Nana Afful was right full back and Skipper, and Sam Fernley left back. In a diamond-like midfield were Jav Waugh, Mark Soares, Deji Alabi and Dan Boyden. Diego Bruno out left supported Shane Johnson in attack. Four players on the bench; Cameron Nanu, Luca Le Page, Danillo Carvalho and Tom Christmas. A very warm welcome to Bertie, Diego, Nanu, Luca and Tom, although Tom will be familiar having been with our U23’s for some while. We wish them all every success with us.
A clash of heads between two Badshot players after 2 minutes gave them the chance to recover and us a chance on the terrace to finish deciding who was who in the yellow shirts. Mark Soares and Diego Bruno combined to put a cross over to Dan Boyden who was unable to keep the ball from touch. On 13 minutes Mark took a quick throw-in to the feet of Deji Alabi who jinked his away into the area where his shot went narrowly wide of the far post. Bertie Saunders and Dan worked the ball to Nana on the right; his cross was deflected for a throw. Nana was quickly back to cut out Badshot’s first attack. A lively start by the Gees was interrupted by Badshot’s first corner on the 20 minute mark, Shane Johnson heading the ball clear.
Dan saw two attempts on goal canon off defenders; the second following good approach play by Sam Fernley and Deji. Dan won a free kick on the halfway line, which Mark played long to Jav Waugh, but Jav’s ball to Diego was snapped up by the keeper. Dan found space down the right, put over a ball to the waiting Deji who was penalised for some reason. Badshot then won two corners in succession, Dougie punching the second away to the touchline. Mark tried his luck with a long range effort that lacked a touch of pace when he latched on to a Dougie goal kick.
Godalming somewhat surprisingly didn’t win a corner until the 40th minute and it came when Mark and Deji set up Sam for a shot that was cleared behind. Jav was first to the corner, but his header was wide. However, they finished the half strongly with Deji shooting well over after more good work from Dan and Mark. The last effort fell to Nana, his cross-come-shot causing the opposition keeper some consternation as it crept over the cross bar. 0-0 at the whistle.
As you were for the second half and the Gees were quickly back into the game. Diego broke down the left and played a ball into the box, but the keeper was out first to beat Shane to it. On 54 minutes it was Dan Boyden who broke down the opposite wing, tricked his way toward the bye line and played a ball low across the area. Diego was on the end of the pass to divert it home with the keeper stranded. 1-0 Gees and deservedly so.
As has been said many times the nature of the game of football now is that, scream and shout as much as you like from the bench or sidelines, most teams that score a goal tend then to defend that bit deeper and invite the opposition to come on to them. Badshot responded with a shot that ran across the face of the goal and a cross that wandered over the bar. The 65th minute brought the first Godalming substitution with Danillo Carvalho coming on in place of goalscorer Diego Bruno. Sam and Danillo combined to set up Mark Soares, but the final pass fell short and Badshot won a corner shortly afterwards. The Gees still created opportunities, Sam attacked down the left and put a ball into Mark who forced the keeper to parry away his shot. The home side won a further corner which was headed wide.
On 75 minutes Tom Christmas, full of running, was sent on up front to replace Shane Johnson. Seven minutes later Luca Le Page came on for Deji; that was just after Mark had seen an effort go narrowly wide of the post. Badshot headed a free kick wide of goal and in the aftermath, Bertie Saunders was left on the ground having picked up a knock. Cameron Nuna came on for him with Jav moving into the back four. Bertie had put in a great shift and let’s hope it’s not too long until we see him again. Sam Fernley set off on one of his goalward runs, but the ball stuck under his foot before he could shoot.
On or around the 90 minute mark all the steady work and progress unravelled when several scoring opportunities fell to Bagshot, all from one move across our goal. The ball didn’t get the big boot away that was needed and it ultimately ended in the net. Mark Soares took a yellow for the team on halfway breaking up an attack and Badshot mustered one more corner before the whistle blew, 1-1.
OK, a disappointing final score but considering the changes and number of new faces involved it was a very encouraging and lively performance. Certainly, one to build on next Saturday when Eversley and California come to the Bill Kyte Stadium for a 3pm kick off.
COYG’s