A BONAZA OF GOALS

It does not come much better than this - with a thrilling week of football with three wins and goals galore. In total there were 22 goals with our players finding their shooting boots by banging in 15 of them.

We knew that our first ever visit to Wormley Rovers was going to be a tough test as like us they are in a rich vein of form, losing just one of their last 9 games which unsurprisingly was against MK Irish. We got off to a blistering start scoring 5 goals within the first 35 minutes but commendably the Worms (as they are known) clawed back 3 before we added a 6th goal 16 minutes from the end of normal time.

This was our hosts first season in the South Midlands League and at Step 5 having moved over from the Eastern Counties Division 1 South at the start of the season. They inflicted a 2-1 defeat on us at The Michael Anthony Stadium back in September with our goal that day coming from Harry Shepherd. We had played them before in two finals of the Herts Senior Centenary Trophy with us winning 2-0 on both occasions with Danny Robbins and Gary Langdale getting the goals in 1999/00 and Jamie Robbins and Andy Humphreys doing likewise in 2000/01.

We could not have made a better start scoring after just 5 minutes. After picking up the loose ball, following a Harry Shepherd tackle, Max Hercules then did a nice one two with Kieran Turner before producing a delightful chip to find Kieran who deftly headed the ball over the keeper. Score 0-1.

Twelve minutes later Kieran Turner’s turned provider when his flicked on header was missed by the centre half who slipped over and Max Hercules took advantage by slotting the ball past the keeper. Score 0-2.

Three minutes later Kieran Turner tore up the left wing, then cut inside and slipped a pass to Harry Shepherd who did the business from the edge of the area cracking home a lovely shot. Score 3-0.

Things were getting surreal especially when in the 26th minute Max floated a lovely ball to the far side of the area where Jack Harvey headed it back across goal where Shep was on hand to reaffirm his status as our leading scorer by volleying in his 20th goal of the season. Score 0-4.

Surrealism turned into utter disbelief when from a long Harry Jones throw a defender inadvertently headed the ball across his own area to Max Hercules who produced a stunning overhead scissor kick for goal number five. Score 0-5.

For those of us watching we had to pinch ourselves that this score line was for real and of course when facing a strong side like Wormley there was bound to be a response and they got the goal they were seeking in the 38th minute when a low cross from the left wing was deflected into the net for an own goal. Score 1-5.

Our hosts pulled another goal back in the 44th minute when Reece Mosanya cracked a fierce shot into the far corner to give the home side a slight glimmer of hope as went into the break although we still held a three goal advantage. HT Score 2-5.

As expected there was a lively start to the second half with the home keeper punching away a firm shot from Kieran Turner which was followed by a terrific shot from Harry Beaumont which fizzed just wide of the post.

Wormley’s late rally at the end of the first half had clearly energised them and they started to show what a good team they are with a header hitting our bar whilst Josh Asiedu smacked a shot against our post. Josh Ameganyi pulled off a great save but the Worms were not to be denied and their glimmer of hope was now shining a bit brighter when they reduced the deficit to 2 goals when they scored in the 65th minute through Erald Desa. Score 3-5.

With their tails up Wormley went all out for goals which left some spaces in their defence which Max and Shep nearly exploited when they went close with efforts on goal. In the 74th we restored our three goal advantage thanks to skipper George Carbery. Picking the ball up on the edge of our area Carbs tore down the middle then released Bailey Osborne. He continued his run to receive a clever return pass from Bailey then he coolly stepped aside a sliding challenge from a defender to slot goal number 6 into the empty net. It was a carbon copy of the goal we scored against Saffron Waldren in the FA Vase except that the roles were reversed with Carbs being the provider and Bailey the scorer. Wormley kept going right to the final whistle but there were no more goals. FT Score 3-6.

An excellent and exciting game of football and a brilliant performance by the players against a very good team who had the second best defensive record in the Premier Division. This keeps us in 3rd place in the table and with Wormley being strong contenders for a top 5 place there is a possibility we may meet again in the play offs. We should also mention the excellent hospitality shown by our hosts.

This coming Saturday we are away at London Lions who are one place and 6 points behind us but with 2 games in hand so this we will be another stern test so lets hope we get plenty of support at the game.

TA: Josh Ameganvi, Harry Jones, Dylan Fitzpatrick, Dave O’Connor, George Carbery (Capt), Jack Harvey, Harry Beaumont (Mason Clarke 79), Harry Shepherd (Finn Rolfe76), Greg Deer (Bailey Osborne 66), Max Hercules, Kieran Turner (Frankie Hercules 64). Sub not used: Harrison Cornick.

Scorers:

WR: OG (38), Reece Mosana (44): Erald Desa (65)

TA: Kieran Turner (5), Max Hercules (17, 35), Harry Shepherd (20, 26),
G Carbery (74)

Crowd: 65