WHAT A GAME AT THE GRASS ROOTS STADIUM

Those spectators who braved a cold November evening to see this League encounter at the Grass Roots Stadium on Tuesday night certainly got their money’s worth for this was a superb game of football and both teams can take a lot of credit for playing the game in the right way.

The first half was nip and tuck with us taking the lead twice with our visitors equalising on both occasions within a few minutes. However, we upped our game in the second half and ran out deserved winners. Frankie Hercules opened the scoring for us and inevitably it was George Carbery who then grabbed a brace of goals before young Harrison Mead made absolutely sure of the victory with a very late goal. The goal from Harrison created a bit of history because at the age of 16 he is probably one of the youngest (if not the youngest) to have scored for the First Team in the South Midlands Premier Division.

We made one change from Saturday’s line up with Ethan Goulding replacing Marian Bogdan who received a nasty injury following a very late challenge in the last game and he will be out of action for a few weeks. Eagle eyed supporters will have notice that Giuseppe Delgaudio has not been available for last 2 games because he has moved to Kings Langley on a dual registration and he came on as a sub for them on Saturday. Adiel Mannion has taken over the mantle of leading the forward line and he has excelled using his undoubted skills to bring other players into the game.

We knew our opponents, who won promotion to this division at the end of last season, would be a tough outfit and so it proved. They came into the game in 5th position in the table only 6 points behind leaders Stotfold but with 2 games in hand. In their last outing they thrashed Baldock Town 6-1, the very same Baldock that beat Risborough Rangers 2-0 the same night as our game. So definitely a team to be reckoned with.

The visitors would have drawn first blood after only 4 minutes had Oscar Frost not stuck out a foot to deflect a shot wide. Just over 10 minutes later Frankie Hercules produced some lovely footwork before slipping a dangerous ball across the area to Harrison Mead who fired his shot over from a great position. The game was flowing from end to end and the Shefford forward Charlie Thake shot just wide of the far post after an excellent pass sent him down the inside left channel.
Just before the half hour mark we opened the scoring through Frankie Hercules who capitalised on some indecision in the opponent’s defence following a free kick. Score 1-0. Harrison Mead was close to doubling our lead just 2 minutes later but his effort was just wide of the post. Just a minute later Shefford equalised when their dangerous winger Sam King burst through the middle of our defence and finished smartly. Score 1-1.

The action was coming thick and fast and just 3 minutes later we retook the lead when Adiel Mannion was fouled in the area. George Carbery stepped up to coolly score from the penalty. Score 2-1. There was hardly time to draw breath because 2 minutes later Shefford were back on level terms again when a cross from King was slotted home by Henry Snee. Score 2-2.

After 4 goals in 8 minutes there were no more in the last 8 minutes before half time and the players and spectators could take a break from all the excitement. HT Score 2-2.

There were early chances for both sides at the start of the second half with Frankie Hercules going mighty close and Oscar Frost making a great save from Snee. The quality of the football did not drop but we started to look the better side. Adiel Mannion went close on 3 occasions, one effort went straight at the keeper, later he forced the keeper into making a great save and in between he tried a spectacular over-head kick but the keeper was well placed to save.

In the 78th minute we won a corner which the visitors failed to clear and it requires no mind reading skills to know that it would be Carbs who would be there to take full advantage to chalk up his 7th goal from the last 7 games, a remarkable record for our captain. Score 3-2.

The visitors piled forward looking for an equaliser but we defended well although we had to be grateful to Lenny Armstrong for a terrific block to deny sub Scott Metcalfe from levelling the score. We were still creating chances with Harrison Mead being played through on goal and although he failed to find the net made up for it 2 minutes into added time slotting the ball home after a brilliant run from Harry Shepherd who has settled in really well at the base of midfield. FT Score 4-2.

Well what a game and full credit must go to our opponents who played their part in making it such an entertaining spectacle. We look a completely different side to the one that suffered a heavy defeat at Cockfosters just a week ago and Ryan Sturges and his coaching team deserve a lot of praise for the dramatic transformation. One aspect that stands out is the fact that we have scored 7 goals in our last 2 games after struggling for most of the season in front of goal. However, football fortunes can change quickly so we mustn’t let a couple of good performances go to our head because we have a very tough game coming up on Saturday in the FA Vase but we can enjoy the moment and be more optimistic about the future.

Team: O Frost, E Hearn, A Sawyer, L Armstrong, F Hercules, E Goulding, A Mannion (D Pobbe 83), H Cornick, G Carbery (Capt), H Mead, H Shepherd. Subs not used: J Morris, J Bibabu, B Delecata, R Churchill.

Crowd: 66