Goals: Robertson, Stevenson(4)
Over the past 2 years a fixture against Broomfield 4s has always been one to look forward to as we regularly scored a hatful of goals against them but this year they are a changed team and a much tougher proposition as their 1-0 win earlier in the season proved. We had a slightly changed side this week with a number of unavailables and call ups but we welcomed back Otis and Roman and called up the 7s hot properties Jack Dudmish and Tom White when their game thankfully, for us anyways, was called off.
Despite the Firs Farm pitch having seen better days we started the game with some nice passing moves down the flanks and created a few early chances with Robertson and Jones who went close with a header from a corner. Stevensons pace upfront was causing the Broomfield centre halves all sorts of problems and a ball over the top presented him with a chance to put us ahead but his effort came back off the post and was cleared. We took the lead when Robertson dispossessed the right back, rounded the centre half, gave the keeper the blood shot eyes and fired home at the near post. Broomfield has struggled to create any chances up to this point but they equalised soon after when a strong run down the left was cut back for their striker to prod home from the six yards out. The same player came close to giving Broomfield the lead following a defensive mix up between McGlogan and Forbes but he put his effort wide when one on one with Edwards. The game evened out with neither team dominating but another ball over the top by Jones found Stevenson once again through in goal who made no mistake taking the ball round the keeper to give us a 2-1 lead at half time.
Second half saw Broomfield push 4 men forward as they looked to get back into the game but we made it 3-1 early on from another through ball that once again found Stevenson one and one to slide home. Broomfield did not let their heads drop and came straight back at us and cut the defecit when a cross from the right was volleyed home. The game was starting to go Broomfields way and they upped the tempo and aggressiveness putting in some meaty challenges in the middle of the park. We almost restored our two goal cushion shortly afterwards when Dudmish wriggled his way past a couple of defenders but couldn’t hit the target. A counter attack down the right about 20 mins in saw the ball cut back across the area to give make it 3-3. They kept attacking and had a couple of chances that Edwards saved well before a Jones ball released Stevenson again who got his hat trick with a cool finish with about 10 mins to go. Lagos, who had dropped back into defence, then made it a one man mission to not let them score popping up all across the back line to snuff out any attacks. With Broomfield now committing 8 players forward we killed the game off with a counter attack that found Stevenson once again through on goal and casually chip the advancing keeper.
A hard fought victory which pushes us up to fourth in the league with half the season gone.A promotion push is probably out of reach barring a complete collapse of the top teams but we are improving week on week and having been playing some great football so plenty to build on in the second half of the season.
MoM: Stevenson
Squad: Edwards, Long, Forbes, McGlogan, Johnson, Robertson, Jones, Lagos, Morris, J.Dudmish, Stevenson. Sub: White
Away attendance: 2 – Mo Scripps and Mickey Beard
