Sunday 7 October 2007

Paul Birch FC crashed to their first defeat of the season with a 6-1 mauling by neighbours FC Bickley.

Back to down to earth for PB this weekend after this thoroughly awful result. Everyone was feeling confident after their win against Leabridge last week. However it was disastrous.

For the first half hour, things were relatively even, with actually PB having marginally the better of the game. However, they went behind after thirty four minutes. Mark Beale gave the ball away and then from the resulting throw in, Bickley attacked and the forward muscled Collins off the ball and struck a good finish to make it 1-0 FC Bickley.

It got worse from there. The side went in at half time 1-0 down but were optimistic that they could pull it back. FC Bickley were clearly a good side and were causing problems but PB have been playing excellent football this season and even being 1-0 down, they thought they had a chance to bounce back.....how wrong they were.

FC Bickley doubled their advantage only 3 minutes after half time when they converted a long throw to make it 2-0 FC Bickley. Then a minute later, Alan Selby gave the ball away and Bickley made it 3-0.

Paul Birch FC steadied the ship over the next half hour or so and Manager Paul Howe introduced Ezekiel, Cassidy and Joe Howe to bring some fresh legs into the side. However, he would have wished that the referee would have blown up 10 minutes early as they went 4-0 down from yet another long throw after 80 minutes. One minute later, after yet another long throw, they were 5-0 down!!

Unbelievable! Before the end of the game, PB conceded a further goal before Tom Reeves scored a good freekick to make the final score 6-1.

I think I have said enough but it really was a shocking result. Hopefully, the side can bounce back next week against Prince of Wales.

Man of the Match

Eze Ezekiel - Only on the pitch for half an hour but showed what he can bring to the team with some steady play and confident use of the ball

Team:

Watts, Beale (Ezekiel 60), McGuigan (Howe 67), Collins, Byworth, Birch, S Reeves (Cassidy 67), Selby, Sparrow, Smith, T Reeves

Subs not used: None