Sunday 16 September 2007

As like last Sunday Paul Birch Reserves once again started poorly allowing Eden Park Rangers A today’s opposition to dominate proceedings from the off.

It was no surprise that the first goal of the game came from the away team when a well work moved allowed their left midfielder to get in between Gary Partridge at right back and cross for an easy tap for the striker.

The first goal was soon followed by a second when from a corner, slack marking allowed their big midfielder time to cushion the ball high into the net.

From being two down Paul Birch reserves finally started to play some decent football and managed to get themselves back into the game from a penalty after Lee was fouled in the area.

It was a surprise not to see the referee produce the red card as the defender was surely the last man with Lee only having the goalkeeper to beat. Anyway the resulting penalty was dispatched with ease into the top left hand corner by Bill Scamp.

Paul Birch reserves now knew they were back into the game and every player sensed it. Eden Park were being given no time on the ball and with captain Rees urging his team mates forward it resulted in Paul Birch drawing level. The goal was a well worked move with the ball being played into Bill’s feet and he sprayed the ball out wide to Paul Partridge who headed into the path of Lee Milton and he finished confidently.

Game on and Paul Birch were looking to gain the advantage going into half time. Paul had a few chances to score and Bill brought an outstanding save from the Eden Park goalkeeper after wrong footing the defender and placing his shot for the top right hand corner only for the goalkeeper to pull off a world class save.

Half time 2-2

What was to follow in the second half was a complete disaster. Paul Birch reserves never really got going and once Eden Park took the lead for 3-2 heads dropped. Despite encouragement from Rees that we had already pulled two goals and that we can do it again it never really happened. Shape was lost and further sloppy goals were conceded which will be a concern to manager Pete Sparrow. Paul Partridge had one more great opportunity to ease the score line but it was a case of too much time for the right midfielder who had got into decent goal scoring positions all game long. Bill Scamp also put the ball into the back of the net but was adjudged to have pushed the defender into the goalkeeper, which seemed like another poor decision by the referee.

The Paul Birch boys walked off at the end of the game disappointed but to be honest we only had ourselves to blame after drawing back level. At times the commitment was there and then we seem just to give up and allow the opposition all the time in the world to play the ball about.

It looks like it is back to the drawing board for Pete Sparrow and Paul Howe.

Full time

2-5

Man of the Match

John Rees - 100% effort throughout

Team:

Livingstone, G. Partridge, Rutherford, Ashioti, A. O'Shaughnessy, P. Partridge, Manning, Rees, Samy, Milton, Skamp,

Subs: Knight, Sheldrick, Li