I set off this afternoon confident in the knowledge that I knew where I was heading because Bedfont Sports played their matches at a ground under the flight path at Heathrow Airport, just around the corner from where I work incidentally, and I had even brought a couple of American colleagues to a pub on the opposite side of the street one lunchtime a month ago.
So when I saw Steve McClurg out on the pavement chatting to the driver of a car who had obviously lost their way I smirked to myself about their ineptitude of getting lost, until suddenly I arrived at the Bedfont Football & Social Club which meant that I missed the ground and needed to turn round, I wasn’t so smug then! [Could have been worse Nick, the stories of clubs travelling to Ashford Town Kent instead of Middlesex are numerous – TC]
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When I did actually arrive at the Bedfont Recreation Ground I was impressed by the modernity of it with a 3G pitch, and the large scoreboard in one corner to keep track of the score and timing, another nice touch had been to paint people on some of the plain walls to give a simulation of a crowd.
Despite still having several long term absentees, as well as a couple of specific players for this match Sam Lock was able to bring a couple of players back onto the bench which was pleasing for him, and both sides were looking to a win this afternoon to give their season in the BetVictor South Central Division some impetus.
As the referee blew the whistle to start the match a British Airways Boeing 747-400 rose majestically out of Heathrow Airport as a backdrop, and I did wonder whether the noise from such departures was going to cause issues with hearing his decisions, I needn’t have worried about that though.
So here we were on a beautiful September afternoon without a cloud in the sky, and the sun beating down on a perfect pitch for playing football which surely meant a great game awaited us, but somehow it just never got started.
Seb Bowerman was back in the team, and he was the obvious threat from the first chance that he created although he scuffed his shot.
Ezekiel Bademosi ran onto a ball which Joe Gater managed to intercept, and Mark Scott had to be off his line quickly to prevent another Bademosi opportunity.
And so the die was cast for the majority of the match with Bracknell having the lion’s share of the possession, without any particular cutting tooth, which Bedfont would look to strike on the break only to flounder with the final ball.
Nicholas Bignall did get his head to Bowerman cross, but there was no power to it so David Trivino easily saved it, plus Dan Carr hit a volley over the bar when well placed.
The Eagles also had a couple of better chances David Olusemo volleyed over the bar from outside the box, a mix up between Justin Clayton and Scott nearly let Keanu Williams take advantage, but Clayton got back to block the shot.
Half time: Bedfont Sports 0 – 0 Bracknell Town
The second half was obviously going to better after both teams had been fired up by their team talks wasn’t it? Oh look there’s a Virgin Atlantic Airbus A340-600 right above us, a quick check of the app shows it is coming in from Lagos. I think that gives you an understanding of how the second half began !
Having seen enough the Robins made a double substitution on the hour in a bid to push on and win the game. Just five minutes later the switch of personnel and formation paid dividends when Bowerman hit a low penetrating cross in from the right and Charlie Losasso reacted quickest to just beat two defenders to the ball giving Bracknell the lead 1-0 !
The response typified Bedfont’s afternoon for me when Didi Ndombe played a pass across the edge of the area to Veron Kokurinkov only for him to swing at the ball sending the ball way over the bar.
Bracknell started to crank up the pressure now as Bowerman won a free kick which Shane Cooper-Clark hit just over the bar, Trivino saved a shot from Losasso and Rob Sheridan launched a long throw which bounced down at Clayton’s feet only for Trivino to beat his effort wide from close range.
From the corner kick there was a coming together and that lead a difference of opinion which seem to rile up the Bedfont players, however with the next attack on the 85th minute Cooper-Clark caused them even more frustration when he hit a shot from virtually 25 yards out which appeared to swerve in the air past Trivino into the back of the net making it 2-0 to the Robins ! He had said to me before the match that he wanted to score a goal, and there it was !
Man of the Match Bowerman created another chance for himself as the minutes ticked down but his snapshot went into the side netting.
The last action saw Andy Ali hit a shot from distance, but Scott was easily able to save it, and the win was secured.
Full time: Bedfont Sports 0 – 2 Bracknell Town
Things seemed a little disjointed today which is not really surprising with all the injuries that have hit the squad so far this season, so it will be intriguing to see how strong a squad start on Wednesday against Westfield in the Velocity Trophy.
Afraid that you’ll have to do without me for a couple of matches as I am off on holiday to who knows where, it’s a mystery don’t you know!
Bracknell Town: Scott, Sheridan, Herbert, Clayton , Losasso (Kibaki 90 Mins), Bowerman, Carr (Darboe 60 Mins), Hancock, Gater, Bayley and Bignall (Cooper-Clark 60Mins). Unused Subs: Ceesay and Genovesi
