Surbiton floored by a double Brandi

Due to heavy traffic in the surrounding area Cheam were forced to start the game with just 10 players on the field. With the one man advantage Surbiton looked to capitalise and started strongly. To the casual observer it may have seemed as if for the first 10 minutes Cheam were up against a team from 2 divisions above, and having recently watched Surbiton play our Mens 2s this wasn’t a million miles from the truth. Surbiton’s selection policy in recent years has been somewhat questionable, with most of their teams picking up vastly more points at home than away. Maybe it’s pure coincidence, maybe they don’t like being beyond walking distance of a little Waitrose, maybe their better players have court mandated ankle bracelets forcing them to stay within 500 yards of their home pitch. Whatever the case, in the words of Cheam hero Mark Frost “You don’t lose to Surbiton”, so despite being a man down we started hoping we could live up to Frosty’s standards.

Barely 5 minutes into the game Surbiton took the lead, but as we restarted the game in what seemed a precarious situation hope arrived in the shape of Dom Beales (it was at least half time before most people realised it was actually Joe Oddy). With 11 players on the field Cheam started to control the play and we started to get our wingers into the game.

‘Better the devil you know, than the devil you don’t’. Having recently watched the Cheam Mens 2s play Surbiton we recognised the defenders who may have some more experience at a higher level. It was no surprise that our equaliser game from some great wing play down the right before the ball was squared across the top of the D for Goalman to strike into the far corner.

At half time we discussed the importance trying to win the game despite already having wrapped up the league title. Rather than have the season fade out in the final 2 games, we pushed on in search of the win. Chances continued to fall to both teams but the velcro like surface was difficult to judge and several chances went begging. As time went by it was difficult to see where the goal would come from, but once again a lack in concentration allowed Brandi to drive through the heart of the Surbiton defence and from just inside the D smash the ball into the top left corner.

Cheam pushed on and created several more chances, but it was something that happened at the other end that almost defined the game. What seemed like a poor aerial from the right wing seemed to pose no threat, that’s before Cheam decided to take it in turns to swing and miss the ball. The Surbiton forward couldn't believe his luck as a slow moving pass somehow made it’s way to him alone in the D and he converted the chance to level the game.

The game could easily have gone either way, but a tactical switch from Cheam pushed Ted back into defence to allow quick distribution from the back to the wings, and Matt Mabin into central midfield to try and imitate Brandi’s direct runs at their defence.

Surbiton’s right back was growing frustrated, he continued to narrate the game, his own passes and share his opinion on every umpire decision. The constant Donald Trump-esque non-sensical ranting was growing weary. Karma struck as he tried to imply James Morris couldn’t get past him, followed immediately by Fisty flying straight past him into the D and winning a short from a last ditch covering challenge.

With 6 minutes left on the clock the decision was made to fling the ball towards the left post in the hope Brandi would get there in time to apply the finishing touch. To the delight of the watching (Cheam) crowd it went exactly to plan. Brandi with his second of the match put Cheam 3-2 up with just minutes to hold on. Cheam did what they do best, taking the pace and threat out of the remaining minutes by casually playing the ball across the back 4, watching the clock tick down. The final whistle went securing another 3 points for the Cheam heroes, and 3 goals closer to their push for a 100 goal season.

Motm: Chris Blackmore has been an instant success and another great performance saw him not only thwart attack after attack but he is also at the heart of so many of our attacks. Epic work rate with skills to match it was another fine performance.

Dotd: Oddy took the award this week for turning up late when we were 1-0 down and his epic ‘swing and miss’ in the build up to the second goal. Harsh considering his overall contribution, but the team voted against him on this occasion.