Sunday 21st January
Ewell Vets Vs Sutton and Banstead
Nescott
2-3 loss
Team: Burnsie, Del, Sean, Chris, Ben A, Matt R, Matt F, Phil D, Thimble, Ben S, Stevie G. Subs: Mike, Aaron, Andy
Goals: Chris, Andy
Assists: Ben A, Matt F
MOTM: Shared
As Ewell warmed up to face S&B, it was clear that skeletons were still hiding in the closet after the hiding Ewell had taken from Cavaliers the previous week. Keen to put this capitulation behind them, Ewell came out looking fired up and ready for battle. Sean and Del immediately linked up well and looked composed on the ball. Matt F and Ben A also set their stalls out early with strong tackles.
Burnsie, returning in goal after knee surgery and a lengthy recovery, made a smart diving save to push a goal bound shot past the post early on. Soon after, Ben S and Thimble beavered away up front to win a corner. Ben A swung a perfect ball towards the penalty spot which Chris, left in acres of space, met with a powerful header. 1-0 to Ewell and some belief began to creep back into the side.
S&B were no pushover though, and clawed their way back into the game by half time. This predominately came through their No.10, who constantly found space in the gaps between midfield and attack and made things happen for them. He twice played balls through the Ewell defence which Burnsie came to collect. On both occasions, the Ewell keeper was favourite but was physically bundled to the floor by the onrushing attacker, leaving his S&B teammate with a simple tap in.
The ref, who camped out in the centre circle all game, waved away protests and could not be moved, either literally and figuratively. The only benefit of his refusal to leave the centre spot was that he was too far away to hear the volley of abuse he received from the downed keeper after both goals!
Down 2-1 at halftime, Ewell made some changes and brought on fresh legs. Aaron provided some real energy and grit, at one point tracking back from the halfway line to put in a goal saving tackle. Andy came on up front and showed some classy touches, linking up play well and creating opportunities for his teammates. Some clear chances came and went though, and on another day Ewell would have won by a landslide. Instead, this was to be a frustrating afternoon in front of goal.
Just as Ewell were pushing for an equaliser, they were hit on the break by S&B to make it 3-1. Last week this was the catalyst for heads to go down, but Ewell rallied and were on top for the remainder of the game. Matt F hung up an enticing corner which found the leaping Andy, defying the years as well as gravity, to nod home and get pulses racing. Despite an exciting finish, it remained 2-3. Congratulations to S&B, but this was a vast improvement by Ewell. Plenty of positives to take into the rest of the season, one of them being that 9 players received MOTM votes showing how well the whole team performed. Onwards we go. C.O.Y.E.