British Airways H

A fine contrast to last week’s game. The match was played in a good spirit (we had a proper ref courtesy of Neill) and Meadhurst looked like a football team for the first time this year. Curious; before this game we had played 3, won 3, scored 12 and conceded only 3 – what’s wrong with that you might say. Well quite a lot actually, we were rubbish.

But back to this game; Meahurst got a prematch talk from Dick that left no doubt about the scope for improvement. The late withdrawal of Andy Lee and Fozzie and a mix up over Colin’s availablity left Meadhurst a little short. Barry Smythe had been invited along to observe but got to wear the Meadhurst jersey and Jack who intended to ref also got an outing.

BA started with10 men but were soon up to strength and both sides set about the game. Meadhurst had the better of it with the back four of Dick, Rob, Carl and Andy in control even when the BA midfield broke forward past the occasionally absent Meadhurst midfield. Everyone wanted the ball and Mike Petch was unluckly not to score when a cross hit his head 2 yards out but rebounded onto the crossbar. Where is Dene when you need him ? Don certainly could have scored; picking up the ball from a poor goalkick and lobbing the keeper expertly only to regret the application of to much spin as the ball went narrowly wide. In between Andy Keywood did score. Don had been firmly bundled off the ball on the left hand side of the BA penalty area and Andy took ruthless advantage of a vertically challenged keeper. The keeper (who made several good saves) got a hand to it but it went in off the bar and post.

One nil at half time gave Dick a problem. 3 nil up or 3 nil down and it’s easy to make subs. At 1-0 putting Jack on was a risk. Still Dick went ahead, giving him the full back spot, presumably on the grounds that he could keep an eye on him there. Which was indeed required. Dick got booked making a saving tackle. Elsewhere Meadhurst were well on top with BA fading but the failure to extend the lead was worrying. Eventually Dogga slotted in at the near post after several good efforts from Dave Ferguson, Nipper and Brian Smith had been saved. A third from Barry Smythe (a nice chip that brought a round of applause from the Meadhurst players) capped a good performance from him and the team.

As if the winning wasn’t enough BA were gracious in defeat, which was nice, and when the Meadhurst manager heard that we were going to the Running Horse after the game he offered to restart the food service !!! Mind you the RH did us proud again and Meadhurst may have to work to keep our custom !

Things started well – the pitch had been mowed, it wasn’t raining and we had 15 players including an unexpected appearance by Dogga who expected to be working. Meadhurst started with a 4-4-2 formation again and had the better of the opening exchanges. BA struggled to make their passes count while Meadhurst caused problems with Brian Smith up front being particularly active and Fozzy providing width and some dangerous crosses.

Nevertheless BA are a capable, quick hardworking side and had the better chances as they broke through twice, one on one with Colin, only to send lobed shots just high or just wide and later saw a well struck shot rebound off the bar. Meadhurst had their chances too with Dick Brockwell striking a fearsome 35 yard drive, which had it been a yard either side of the keeper would have beaten him. Missing lobs was a bit of theme with Brian Smith failing to capitalise on some good work to get one on one with the BA keeper. 0-0 at half time was fair although BA could have had some legitmate complaints at Jack’s idiosyncratic refereeing decisions.

Bringing Dogga and Nipper on at half time should have tipped things in Meadhurst’s favour but instead BA had some good pressure and one sharp break lead to the opening goal for BA. Jack had probably Meadurst best chance of the game to nearly level the scores but was denied by the keeper’s big toe. BA remained dangerous on the break as Meadurst tried to push forward and scoctually this was a good result - we were a bit threadbare on the playing staff as a nominal 13 selected became 11 on the day without Ferguson and Atkins. Fortunately nobody injured themselves despite the long lay off and we put in a dogged, hard working, performared again past a tiring defense. Hope flickered briefly as Carl Driscol (playing a good game at full back) shot from wide on the left to bring the game back to 2-1 and Meadhurst finished the game the stronger side. While a draw would have been a reasonable result overall BA deserved to edge the best gme of the season so far.

Ance to irritate BA no end. The pitch was a bit of a leveller - the overnight rain turning a heavy pitch into a sodden mess. Playing in midfield was diabolical as Petch and Driscol will tell you. Playing without a regular keeper threatened to cause a few problems too. However, unlike the BA away game, when Pikey's injury was a major factor in the scale of the defeat, none of the goals were down to the stand in keepers (Frost and Winch). Both keepers made useful (if inelegant) saves and Jack is rather proud of his clean sheet for the first half.

Indeed Meadhurst went in 1-0 up thanks to a smart move ending with Dogga putting Dene through and Dene showing pace (sic) and power and finesse (sic) to hold off the defender and lift the ball over the advancing keeper. As the half progressed BA forced Meadhurst further back and threatened to play through and around the defence but weak finishing and unlikely agility from Jack in goal meant they had an angry half time discussion. So much so that they marched back onto the pitch after 2-3 minutes demanding to restart. Not at all veteran like.

The second half carried on where the first finished - Meadhurst rarely left their half for the first 20 minutes and BA duly equalised with a cross from the by-line met at the near post. Dick felt that we should have stepped up to play them offside - he is right of course but I don't remember the last time we practiced that. Curiously Meadhurst went ahead again quite quickly with a smart break and a quickly taken throw in that caught BA asleep. Jack fed Dogga behind the defence who hit he ball across the face of the goal for Petchy to knock in. Given the determined nature of the Meadhurst performance the BA equaliser was a bit soft. BA were playing the ball around fairly harmlessly outside our box and out of boredom put in a cross to the penalty spot. A cute header sure but closer attention from the Meadhurst defenders would have made it harder. 2-2.

Meadhurst went back into the lead in fine style with probably the best goal of the game. A bit of determination won the ball for Meadhurst on the half way line and Dick hit it down the left for Petchy to run on to. Despite very close attention from the BA defence Mike hit a perfect cross beyond the keeper for Dogga to head in. Dogga confided he had visions of the Staines Town game when he succeeded in clearing rather than scoring (from much closer) but a classy 3-2 lead to Meadhurst this time.

If BA were cross before they were furious now - but actually they were less dominant and the equaliser for them was a rather soft penalty. Ken Gibson challenged for a ball crossing the edge of the penalty box and the BA forward threw himself onto Ken's knee, rather painfully sacrificing his owns balls. The ref gave a penalty out of sympathy we assume.

BA were muttering darkly about clobbering us now but Meadhurst finished stronger and both Petch and Frost came close to giving us the winner before the Ref blew the final whistle to widespread relief.

BA have suggested swapping the home and away fixtures to play on their better drained pitches in January and at Meadhurst earlier in the year. A fine idea but a definite symptom of their frustration at being unable to get the better of a plucky Meadhurst side. Just occasionally some of our better players wanted to talk about it rather than get on and compete but we largely keep a decent shape and were well worth a draw against a good side.

Both teams were up for this - BA had several players who don't normally play and Meadhurst had the strongest available team - and Fred and Jack etc. The pre-match didn't go well - our ref called off and Tony Huxley would have stepped in but they had a couple of refs on hand and Tony was sick. Its not pleasant to see the ref throw up so we let BA ref the game.

We elected to play our normal 3-4-3 for home games. The theory is that 3 forwards gives the oppo unexpected problems and that Dick will take his defensive responsibilities seriously for 45 mins if there is a deficit of defenders. So much for theory - the attacking bit went well with good Meadhurst pressure but a long ball forward from BA found Fred alone with the BA forward and Paul Doyle stuck in no mans land. Just the moment for Dick to take charge and issue instructions to the keeper and tidy up after Fred. Sadly Dick was still in the BA half and BA scored.

Meadhurst were not discouraged - Dave Ferguson was playing after all and he soon after came up with the goods. Fred claims it was his penetrating cross that set up the goal but surely Dave beating 3 defenders and driving the the ball in from a very tight angle deserves some credit.

Meadhurst had the game under control at this point but the BA midfield started adopting un-gentlemanly tactics like changing positions and running away from their markers. Cuzzy got quite cross at the Meadhurst midfield's surprise at such dubious behaviour and all in all Meadhurst were fortunate not to concede a second goal before half time.

We changed to 4-4-2 at half time with new boy Ken Gibson coming on for Fred and Julian Harnor giving Glen Jones a chance to recover from his first outing as a Meadhurst forward. It was a managerial masterstroke to keep Julian Harnor fresh and keen on the sidelines for the first half - ready to play a critical role as the oppo faded.

To be honest neither team posed a great scoring threat in a competitive second half. Meadhurst created the better chances with two well struck shots from Mike Petch saved by a good BA keeper but it was BA who scored in the last ten minutes with a curious goal. Meadhurst conceded an unnecessary corner as Paul let a ball go out thinking it would be a goal kick - the rules suggest that this requires the oppo to make last contact with the ball but Paul is a free thinker. The ref was not and from the corner Rob Sage, Roy Partington and Paul Doyle conspired not to take responsibility for a lazy ball to the near post and allowed it into the goal without hindrance. No BA forward was within 5 yards of the debacle. A disappointed Meadhurst set about making amends and 1 minute before full time Dave Ferguson struck a sweet cross and the manager's foresight in keeping Julian fresh was repaid as Julian rose above the tired BA defence (seriously - both feet were off the ground) and nodded the ball downwards (!) into the net.

Not a bad outing and while we probably deserved a win we were in the end lucky to salvage the draw.

Team

Gary Seaforth

Jack Frost

Richard Cozens

Dick Brockwell

Julian Harnor 1 goal

Roy Partington

Fred Riddiford

Dave Ferguson 1 goal

Robin Lewis

Glen Jones

Paul Doyle

Rob Sage

Mike Petch

Ken Gibson