A strong performance at home to Tenterden Tigers, a team we lost to on both occasions when we met in the B league.
We only had 12 players available, with Martin Hill missing from central defence likely to be the biggest problem. Nick Edwards played in his place.
We got off to our best ever start, as we won the ball from Tenterden's kick-off, and Chris Newbury set off on one of his trademark runs which ended with him scoring after just 28 seconds. With only 1 minute and five seconds gone a shot from Ben Spring was deflected to give us a 2-0 lead. Despite the whirlwind start, that was the end of the goalscoring in the first half. We defended well, with Nick Edwards making some vital challenges, and we won a lot of ball in midfield, but the moves tended to break down as we neared the Tenterden goal.
The second half was fairly even. Jamie Hards still had few saves to make, but the defenders had to be alert. Tenterden were starting to have more of the ball when Mike Ide latched on to a through ball 23 minutes into the second half and although most onlookers thought he had taken the ball too wide he produced an amazing shot from a tight angle to score. Two minutes later he scored his second.
Dan Tester found the net with a good finish shortly afterwards, but it was ruled out for offside. Chris Newbury, who had begun the scoring finished it after 31 minutes of the second half when he gave the goalkeeper no chance with a high shot from outside the area after Tenterden made some good saves and blocks.
The defence and midfield worked hard, particularly Chris Newbury who was outstanding again, and Mike Ide took his goals well, but man-of-the-match was Nick Edwards, who played out of position and out of his skin, frequently sparing the blushes of the more experienced defenders around him. |