Cheam 2's v Reigate Priory 3's

Saturday’s game between Cheam 2s and Reigate Priory 3s was the first visit for Cheam to Nonsuch for far too long. It wasn’t helped by a 1000 start and a last minute drop out. But the crowds gathered and Cheam readied for battle.

With home ground advantage, Cheam started well from the off; something we’ve not seen much of this season. The midfield and attacking units combined well after a solid amount of pressure, a training ground move at a short corner saw the ball slapped to Dan Threfall on the right hand post to knock it into the goal. The irony being that the team don’t really spend any time on the training ground rehearsing short corners…. Nevertheless: 1-0 Cheam

Cheam had the bulk of possession but there were still forays into the Cheam 23 by Reigate. Some attacking pressure led to captain Andy Cooper forgetting what sport he was playing and executing a sliding tackle John Terry would have been proud of. The ensuing short corner’s drag flick didn’t really test the Cheam keeper and was 50% of the saves made in the first half.

Jamie Weston led the charge up front with many attacking short corners won, and many chances on goal. The Reigate keeper kept his team in it. But it is reassuring to see some opportunities actually being transferred to shots on goal.

Jamie Gibson also looked very sharp with incisive crosses being pinged in -sadly towards Badger who wasn’t having his sharpest day. The usual Badger whooping, yelping and squealing were of course, ever present. There’s due to be another badger cull this year I think. At least they’ll know where he is.

There were more Reigate attacks and short corners, but testament to Cheam’s defenders and midfield working back– the keeper was not troubled for the remainder of the half. Apart from one particular incident. Captain Andy Cooper, being the generous soul he is, still likes to give the attackers the ball. It REALLY would help if we could remove/beat/coerce this kind of generosity out of him.

The 1st half also saw our token shackle dragger Tim Harrison, earning a sure-fire DoD nomination with stick waving of such incompetence that it took him 3 attempts on 3 separate occasions to make contact with the ball. All of which were in acres of space and completely unchallenged. Special.

The half time talk was a relaxed and confident affair. We finally were addressing some issues we’ve had in the earlier stages of the season, but resolved to move the ball more positively. And captain Andy Cooper promised he would try and keep hold of the ball.
The second half ran in a similar fashion to the first with a great deal of Cheam pressure, interspersed with the odd run at the D by Reigate.

A couple of incidents of note around the Cheam D.

Firstly following a deflection save by the Cheam keeper, the ball became stuck underneath his body. A very (Very) affectionate attacker decided the best course of action was to lie on top of the keeper. Somewhere in this amorous exchange the ball pinged out and rolled over the line. The question was posed very delicately by Madders ( Richard Eggleton ?) as to how the keeper was supposed to get off of the ball and then less delicately by the keeper… An interesting perspective from the umpire. We would hear more from him.

The second incident was Misty ( James Hodgson ) catching a ball on the back of the hand. He bravely lay on the floor for a short while before departing the field. As it turns out, it’s an impressive and deep tear. Didn’t get it looked at though… well…it’s his hand…
So, 1-1 and all to play for. Cheam stepped up the forward pressure and after more attempts at goal we were 2-1 up. Except we weren’t. The keeper on the floor and the open goal gaping just excited badger that little bit too much. Decent height on the ball… less strong on the direction.

Thankfully, a Cheam short corner followed shortly afterwards. I’m not entirely sure how it went, but the ball was deflected in by Dan Threfall for his second of the day. BUT the umpire on the halfway line wanted to be involved and queried whether the ball had actually left the D. He was set straight, the goal stood. 2-1. (Again, we’d hear more from umps).
Once again the Cheam defence and midfield worked well. Ben Gibson strong yet again in defence and more than making up for Coops and his 2 day hangover.

There are times in a season where people stop in stunned silence for a moment, unable to comprehend what has just happened. Saturday was that time. After a decision that in no way favoured Sohail Ahmad, he nodded, walked away and got on with the game. Has age finally mellowed him? Did he have a particularly good morning before he arrived? We’ll never know. But, it was unnerving.

The final play of the game saw Cheam with another attacking short corner. Another slick routine saw the ball in the back of the net by Dan. 3-1 to Cheam. BUT no. Halfway Line Umps wanted to be involved again. Again queried whether the ball had left the D. This time the query stuck… Not sure how, why or quite how it was picked up. This time, it stuck and the goal was disallowed. So, dire hat-trick/jug avoidance from Dan. The Halloween do next weekend will see some forfeit…

First league win of the season. We'll take that.

DoD
Nominations:
Badger
Aussie Tim

Winner: Andy Cooper (unanimous)

MoM
Nominations:
Not Cooper
Ashton
Dan Threfall

Winner: Jamie Weston