Yateley Utd 3 (2) v (0) 0 Godalming Town – League
Saturday saw the first game for new manager Sam Morgan and his assistant Daryl Coleman at Godalming Town. A welcome to them both and we wish them success in their bid to improve and secure the side’s league position from the current 19th place. Unfortunately, it wasn’t the start we all wished for after the game ended in a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Yateley who were in 16th place and just three points ahead of the Gees at the start of the day.
Adrian Giles took over the gloves and in front of him ranged three centre backs; Daryl Coleman, making his debut in the middle with Marcus Travers to his right and Elliot Creeley to his left. Mo El Azouan, Conor Stillwell and Evan Kelly sat in centre midfield with Deji Alabi wide left and Dan Boyden wide right of them. Ronnie Reeves was the target man with captain Cam Edwin behind him looking to be further forward than we have recently become accustomed to seeing him. A full bench of five comprised Nana Afful, Shane Johnson, Jonny Miller and Declan Joyce and offered the first sighting of, and a welcome to new signing, Fred Greenstreet.
Inside the first two minutes Adrian was forced outside his area to head clear a threat down our right side, too reminiscent of Tooting’s first goal on Tuesday to be comfortable. It wasn’t long after that Yateley won the first corner of the match, cleared by Elliot. Dan Boyden appeared to be fouled over by the left touchline, but a Yateley throw was the decision. Not sour grapes but nevertheless it was the first decision of many that did not go Godalming’s way throughout the 90 minutes. A sadly familiar pattern was already developing to this game, the opposition sitting far too comfortably on the ball and bossing possession. 11 minutes in saw a Yateley attack down the Gee’s right flank, only a very fortunate rebound from Gilesy’s far post kept the score at 0-0. Ronnie and Deji combined but could only win a throw which Daryl Coleman veritably hurled into the box. Twice Dan Boyden set up Evan Kelly on goal. On the first occasion Evan was adjudged to have committed a foul and on the second a clumsy challenge on him was given as a goal kick. Between these incidents Cam received a yellow card for a challenge on halfway.
Things unravelled in the 24th and 27th minutes when Yateley scored twice. The first goal, and again not for the first time this season, came from a poorly executed clearance which fell to Yateley’s lad on the wide right. He had been looking dangerous since the start of the game and finished low and hard with Adrian having no chance to keep it out. Three minutes later the lack of that big boot away left Yateley perming any one from three strikers to put the ball in the net. They couldn’t miss. Shortly after the restart Evan Kelly went down with a knock on the hallway line and was unable to continue; Jonny Miller came on to replace him. Mo picked up a yellow in the same circumstances as Cam. Another Yateley corner saw them head over when a goal appeared to be certain. Perversely this led to the best Gees spell of the game. Deji shot wide following some nice work by Ronnie and Dan and we won a corner from a Cam cross, the keeper conceding a second as he parried the first behind. But no goals came and with the half time whistle came another trek back to the dressing rooms on the wrong end of the scoreline.
As you were with the same eleven for the restart and straight away Yateley won a corner. However, Dan won one for the Gees as the play moved up the other end. Daryl delivered a great ball on to the head of Ronnie and it was in the net. It took us on the sidelines a while to realise the ref had called Ronnie for push, a very close call that summed up the way the decisions were going on the day. 57 minutes saw a long ball down the Gee’s left, lots of yellow arms waving for offside (play to the whistle!) and 3-0 to the home side. During the next ten minutes we saw Yateley spurn what appeared to be an open goal, head another corner wide when they should have done better, and then force Adrian into a save after a further corner was recycled across the Gee’s penalty area.
The half played out with all the substitutes being used. Shane and Fred Greenstreet replaced Ronnie and Daryl Coleman on 70 minutes. On 75 minutes Nana came on for Dan who appeared to be struggling, having gone down a couple of times. Conor also had to be helped off in the closing minutes, Declan Joyce taking his place. The best chance of what was left of the half for the Gees came via a corner which was skied up under the bar by a defender. As it came down the keeper grabbed it at the second attempt. We came close once more when a Jonny Miller cross found a boot in the box, but the ball cleared the bar. Final score 3-0 Yateley.
I was discussing the Tooting game with one of their stalwart fans in the week and mentioned that despite the result, for their reputation and potential revenue streams (just look at their function room in full flow on Tuesday night) I thought they were a surprisingly ordinary side. ‘Yes,’ he said, ‘but we only had to play you for an hour, it was game over.’ It’s not my intention to belittle each opponents’ abilities but in almost every match this season we have allowed them to dictate the play for long periods and goals are conceded. We cannot close them down in the way that they do to us.
With no game this coming Saturday, next up is Reading City at Home in the Southern Combination Cup on Tuesday 13th October. Tadley progressed in the FA Cup yesterday, the date of the next round is the 17th, the date of our home game with them, watch this space.
A final word before we close. Football fans don’t have rights and entitlements; those of us old enough to have been forced to watch old Division One Football behind wire fences know that well enough. What we do have however are expectations. The number of squad members remaining at the club from the last three, ultimately successful, seasons continues to diminish. That loss is tough to get your head around, and we’ll miss them wearing the shirt; very sadly it’s called Football. Whatever lies ahead, his week’s changes at the Club must preserve our Step 5 status come the end of the season. For the fanbase that is our minimum expectation.
COYG’s