06 January 2013 Bickley 0 - GroundHoppers 1 (Paul Pickard Quarter Final)
I saw this game coming from the original draw and always thought that it would be a tight and hard fought contest, like all Bickley games. Despite being relegated last season Bickley still have a good core of players to draw from playing in the pyramid system on a Saturday. We also know many of their players well and both teams have looked forward to their encounters and hence despite some poor league results I thought Henry would be keen to put out his strongest available side. Groundhoppers started with a very good tempo and the omens looked encouraging. There was an urgency about their play and the passing and movement off the ball was excellent in the early stages and probably as good as anything this season. The first quarter of an hour saw Drew Huggins seeing a good deal of possession and using the ball intelligently and GH created numerous chances which could have seen Steve Evans score a hat-trick but denied by some good goal keeping, a scuffed shot and a superb headed clearance off the line. From the side you couldn’t but feel a little worried that that could prove decisive, yet on the pitch the collective force continued to roll forward with opportunities in abundance. Terral Allen had a glorious opportunity to score as did player manager Dave Rose but again the keeper was in excellent form and saved with legs, feet and body on several occasions. Early opportunities for Bickley were confined to distance but they only proved that they had the fire power to score and the defence had to be focused throughout. Keeper Drew Simmonds, making his first competitive appearance of the season, did well to smother one opportunity when moving smartly off his line and forced another rasping shot over the bar with the final move of the half. In honesty a score line close to 8-2 would not have been out of keeping with the chances created in the first forty five. All Hoppers players emerged from the half with credit, with the defence generally on top when pressed, the midfield in a very creative mood and the front players showing great movement and work rate and setting up opportunities. HT 0-0. Hoppers probably didn’t want the half to end such was their general superiority without denigrating the ability of Bickley. They started the half well with a slight incline in their favour and again found the keeper in fine form at decisive moments keeping the score line goalless. Hoppers had to remain both patient and resilient. Bickley showed good signs of getting into the game without any clear cut chances whilst GH continued to create good opportunities. The first five minutes was a case of déjà vu. Nick Atkins had a shot in the first sixty seconds, Drew shot wildly wide when one on one and a corner in the fifth minute eluded all and ended with the woodwork coming to Bickley’s rescue. Dave was having an excellent game both in providing opportunities and getting on the end of them but he would have been disappointed not to have scored from Drew’s cross in the tenth minute. That disappointment was put aside minutes later when he opened up the Bickley defence for Lawrence Thompson to use his pace from the back to find space in the box to coolly slot underneath the keeper. Shortly after I thought their keeper pulled off his best save of the game when Rob Wickenden was found by Nick Atkins pass and his shot looked to have found the corner of the net when the keepers’ glove appeared smartly to touch around the ball around the post for a corner. Bickley made inevitable changes and changed Hoppers’ hold over the game. The ball was moved forward quicker and with greater support for the front players and dangers signs started to appear although without initially any cast iron openings thanks to the organised defence. There were some good combative challenges from the back four with Simon Christou notably having an ‘interesting’ tussle with their centre forward who has in the past always seems such a big influence up front for Bickley. As the hoppers goal came under increasing pressure you sensed that an equalise was coming without them having the same chances that Hoppers had spurned in the first half. Simon gave way to Scott Hlilyard after another solid challenge left him ‘winded’ (polite version) and Eliott Parmenter moved to central defence. Bickley continued to move the ball and support players forward with pace and the penalty box saw plenty of action without Drew being called on for match winning saves whilst his confident manner and handling also gave the defence plenty of confidence in front of him. FT 0-1. Another banana skin avoided. The score line was probably not reflective of the overall game and chances created but given the late surge by Bickley the win was all that mattered at the end of the day
Simmonds, Canfield, Christou, Simmonds Thompson, Wickenden, Evans, Rose, Atkins, Huggins, Allen. Sub Hooley, Hillyard, Searle |
16 December 2012 GroundHoppers 2 – Hatcham 3 (President’s Cup 3rd Round)
This was the third game against Hatcham this season and with the past two encounters ending in draws you sensed this could be another close game. Hatcham have started slowly in both the previous games and it was for Hoppers to set the tempo. However this was a fired up Hatcham, who worked very hard off the ball as well as providing alternatives to the man in possession and it was them who had all the momentum from the start. GH just didn't get enough possession or time on the ball to make any inroads into the game and they squanders what little opportunities came their way. What was true to form was Hatcham shooting from distance which didn't trouble the keeper which was probably the reason the first half ended goalless as they did get space wide and around the back but didn't use it as we'll as they could have. I have, I think been very fair on officials this year and praised them for what on the whole has been a good season for them. However today was an exception I felt. Possibly trying to avoid any conflict and keep the settled the referee let far too many aspects go. One cynical foul on Nick, whilst not life threatening was premeditated to stop a promising move and the player could be seen from some distance away from Nick that a foul was going to be committed. Later a linesman was abused and allowed to carry on the abuse even when confronted by the referee; the skipper was consulted, from ten yards away the player continued the abuse yet no yellow card was shown and that set a pattern for the game. Some elementary decisions unfortunately were incorrect, with both sides being wronged it has to be said, but it only add to frustrations on and off the pitch; again it continued for too long throughout the game - not one for the scrap book. HT 0-0. Hoping for Hoppers to come out with some tempo and structure to their game that has been so evident in recent weeks it was more of the same. Very little was created and Hatcham continued to dominate the game in which too many GH players had an off week, though you only play as well as you are allowed and Hatcham closed the play down well for most of the game. The ball did reach dangerous areas for Hoppers but too often the final pass or flick was found wanting. Not too much to say individually given the manner of the display but credit to the defence for perseverance and Jamie in goal for some safe handling although distribution was erratic! As the game neared the end of ninety minutes and goalless it was looking like extra time or awaiting one mistake either way to settle it. The mistake came with a poor back pass and scramble around the penalty spot and the referee awarded a penalty in the melee although would not communicate exactly who had been adjudged to have fouled the forward. One nil and the game looked over as Hoppers chances had been few and far between. More so when soon after Hatcham scored another following a move down their left and we moved into injury time. Dave had already moved the formation around with late subs but it seem all over until the 91st minute when a through ball to Steamer found him alone in the box and he beat the keeper comfortably. In the ninety third minute with Hatcham trying to see out time again Hoppers applied the pressure and Ross latched onto a loose ball and score the most unlikely of equalisers. Hoppers nearly stole it in the fifth minute of added time when Terral found himself at the far post but couldn't steer the ball goal wards FT 2-2. The game had a far more even look about it in ET with both teams having good opportunities but it was another mistake that lead to Hatcham taking the lead again. The ball was allowed to run under the Ross's foot and with only the keeper to beat they fired into the corner of the net. Hoppers could have been deflated at this point but they pressed forward with more regularity and could have equalised soon after. GH were indebted to JT for a marvellous reaction save in the first half which finished ETH-T 2-3. The final fifteen was frenetic as you would have expected and whilst GH left gaps at the back to push forward the clear cut chances fell to Hoppers and only poor finishing hand some excellent tackles by the Hatcham defence prevented an equaliser. Those at the ground would have witnessed further poor officiating and the least said the better. ETF-T 2-3
Tulloch, Hillyard Christou, Simmonds Thompson, Wickenden, Rose, Atkins, Huggins, Allen Searle, Sub Hooley Canfield Burgess. |