Having set off in the middle of the night most boys looked a little bit tired as players and parents unfolded themselves out of the cars after a long journey…A12 versus M11…high road versus low road…..but Hill were definitely in Scotland before the opposition despite the early start. Kicking with the slope in the first half Hill pressed hard, got out of the traps early and had the game closed down at half time. Despite a spirited fightback in the second half from the hosts Hill were good value for their 6-2 win. A tope three clash was always going to be a tight game and so it proved….both teams fought hard for midfield supremacy in a game that had little by way of elegant football but everything by way of determination and will to win, laced with a couple of moments of super football that ultimately ended up being the difference between the two teams. Brantham Athletic FC 1-1 Buckhurst Hill FC, U13 Eastern Junior Alliance, Herts Div Sunday 01/12/20132/12/2013
Saturday Night had seen a very well attended 80’s quiz night which saw the those two intellectual giants Dean Johnson and Brad Swann steer there table to a dramatic victory. Alll had a great night and we are grateful to Russ for the hard work he put in and his Nicholas Parsons, Brucey bonus Jim Bowen compare performance was inspired.. A special mention to Mr T (Lee Brookes ), Ali G ( Brad Swann) and Boy George, who I am told was Vince but to me it looked like boy George himself.
An early start the next morning saw a few sore heads heading for Suffolk for an important game against top of the table Brantham where we were greeted by a fantastic club house the best we have seen anywhere the floors were spotless and the welcome was friendly. But from the off it was clear that the pitch was not up to the same standard and both teams were to struggle to play fluid football on what was a bobbley pitch. The game started at a high tempo and straight away we could see the quality of the Brantham players and the reason why they were flying high. But the game was going to be influenced just as much by the players as the managers decisions, the home team set up with 5 in midfield and one up front whilst Hill set up 4-4-2 opting to play two up front trying to overcome the heavily populated Brantham midfield by playing a quick ball into the channels to take advantage of the pace that we all know Hill can put up front.
On 4 minutes the Brantham forward broke through the middle but was well covered by Hill’s powerful centre back Eve whose shoulder to shoulder challenge saw the forward go down and a free kick given 25 yards out, the resultant strike sailed past the upright.
The game remained tight with the midfield two of Johnson and Harris having to work hard with little space and being out numbered in the middle of the park. On 8 minutes Hill won a free kick which Eve took it was flicked on by Brookes and found Swann who turned the defender and unleashed a shot which went just past the post. Four minutes later a ball out of defence from Eve was flicked on by Redhead to Brookes on the left who played a ball back across the area to find Redhead but his shot flew past the post. Brantham broke forward and an uncharacteristic error by Eve who took a touch too many allowed the Brantham forward to win the ball which he played to the far post into the path of their wide midfielder whose shot was hit with pace and power over the bar. Brantham then played an accomplished though ball to their lone striker but S Barret had seen the danger and rushed out to save at his feet.
On 15 minutes Hill played a ball out of defence Redhead’s headed flick found Swann clean through one on one with the giant Brantham keeper who managed to push Swann’s shot round the post. On 17 minutes a corner from the right delivered by Johnson was flicked on by a header from the diminutive but agile Brookes finding Swann at the back post but he was not able to get a clean shot off .
Hill were starting to push forward but Brantham are a quality side and on 21 minutes a well struck shot from the left was well saved by S Barrett. Hill then played the ball out to the right and Redhead opened the afterburners outpacing the excellent Brantham left back wearing the 5 shirt who recovered well but Redhead used his strength to drive past him into the area and played a ball into Swann who pushed the ball past the Brantham keeper 0 – 1.
On 24 minutes Ewing on the left burst forward into the Brantham area but he couldn’t keep his shot down and it went over the top. Two minutes later Brantham were awarded a free kick which found a player arriving on the left whose powerful shot was tipped over the bar by S Barrett. The resulting corner from the right was driven low into the Hill box, it pinged around off Harris’s chest couldn’t be cleared and was bundled in, after seeing a lot a of high quality football from Brantham there goal was a sloppy affair but they all count and they levelled 1-1.
Hill were starting to sit a little too deep and on 33 minutes a Brantham free kick was floated to the far post, seeing a Brantham player getting a slight touch but not quite enough and it carried on past the goal.
A minute later Johnson played a lovely ball out to Brookes on the left who played a fabulous cross field ball to find Redhead who looked clean though but for a fantastic challenge from the Brantham number 5 which was applauded by all. The ref blew for the end of a high tempo very competitive half with both teams well matched 1-1.
The second half kick off and picked up where the first half had finished. 5 minutes in and Brookes beats the left back and plays a great ball into the near post finding Readhead who looked certain to score but for another class challenge from the Brantham 5. 10 minutes in Emerson span the defender and showed great control bursting forward but was foulded, the resultant free kick being floated into the area trying to find Ewing who couldn’t quite get enough on his header which was held by the keeper.
A minute later Emerson again span the centre back on the half way line and showed great pace to burst forward into the area but his shot was well saved. The corner was cleared by Brantham but Hill won the second phase ball which was put back into the area finding Harris who played a quick ball to the near post finding Redhead who looked certain to score in his current form but couldn’t quite control it and the ball went wide.
On 16 minutes a dangerous though ball from the impressive red haired number 12 in midfield found their forward in a dangerous position but was well defended by Jessop and H Barrett. Two minutes later a nice one two combination between Emerson and Brookes saw Brookes unleash a rifled shot which sailed past the far post.
Brantham where seeing more of the ball in midfield and they have some accomplished players on the ball but with only one up front Hill’s accomplished back four where able to deal with the lone threat whilst Hill looked more dangerous going forward with a two pronged attack and wide men joining at pace. On 20 minutes yet another great spin from Emerson saw him go clear fo the defence down the right he played a cross field ball to Brookes who couldn’t find a finish.
On 22 minutes Brantham played a quick longer ball by passing the heavily packed midfield and finding their front man one on one but his shot was well saved by S Barrett who was having a solid game between the sticks.
On 28 minutes Redhead breaking down the right was fouled , Johnson played a quality curved ball in front of the Brantham goal but the Hill attackers were unable to get anything on it when a touch would have seen the quality of the ball deflected into the net. On 34 minutes the ball is played into Foster who turns skips past two and is brought down 25 yards out on the right. With seconds left on the watch Johnson places the ball down and the Hill crowd hold their breath having seen many such free kicks fly into the back of the onion bag. Could he produce a winner late on, but it was not to be and his shot was down the throat of the keeper who held shot.
Hill were not finished and now into injury time Redhead broke down the right and unleashed a great shot which almost took the paint off the post as it whipped by the goal.
1-1 was the final score, Hill created more chances with the more attacking line up but Brantham were impressive in the middle of the park with an extra player and some crisp passing on a difficult pitch. An exciting high quality game and a good advert for the EJA with high quality players all over the pitch who had the intelligence to understand what their managers wanted from their respective formations and it will by hard to see the end of the season without one of these teams in the final flury fighting for the title.
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