Canterbury Squires 0 - 2 Gravesham & Wellcome 2s

Saturday 23rd September 2023
Canterbury Squires 0 – 2 Gravesham & Wellcome 2s

For their first league game after the long summer break the new-look 2s would travel to Canterbury in what promised to be an awkward encounter.

Captain Aaron Elliott noted last seasons fixture and the 8-1 demolition job but insisted the team focused on the fact they had been 1-1 at half time – because this Canterbury side would be out for revenge and the memory will have burned in their minds.

In the pre-game discussion the team learned from their Captain that Oscar Baillie had been rewarded for some excellent performances with a permanent call-up to the 1s. This information would serve to lift the team as the game got under way.

Within 2 minutes of the game starting in one of the first attacks the teams youngsters led the way when Oli Atkinson drove forwards from the left and executed a near perfect delivery across the D to the far post. It would evade everyone but for Zak Rowland arriving back-post for his opener of the league campaign slotting home.

The arena were stunned and the Gravesham side were delighted with the start to their game which would help to remove any anxieties they might have had.

More attacking play from across the team would continue with Eren Basch and Zak Rowland linking up well down the right and when play broke Reuben Morphew would help to steady the ship in the middle.

Half time and the team reflected on their positive first half and encouraged more of the same, while recognising fitness levels weren’t quite optimal so best endeavours would be sought.

The second half would plough ahead and the team would come to rely on the expert defensive marshalling of Richard Atwood, aided by the cries of Nav Tung, while the rest of the team and it’s structure was being delicately controlled by the newly instated Vice-Captain Si Bradley. Canterbury were putting GWs under pressure but could not find a break through. The umpires seemed to attempt to help with a few dubious short corner decisions but all to no avail.

As the half wore on Amit Ubhi kept persevering with driving runs in a performance that would eventually earn him man-of-the-match and drew a few short corners. The game entered its final phases a few minutes of pressure would culminate with Martin Lett Jnr going for goal but seeing it go wide Elliott was able to reach reverse stick to send the ball high into the side netting.

At 2-0 from yet another short corner Alex Spurgeon drew a save from an impressive drag-flick after an awkward injection, with Ubhi their usual injector off the pitch resting.

Then the final moments as the game drew to a close and asking “how long left?” Elliott ran the ball into the corner where the last seconds were whittled away to seal that clean sheet for goalkeeper Keaton “Juan-Rico” Gates and an early lead in the golden gloves.

Man of the match: Amit Ubhi
Goalscorers: Zak Rowland, Aaron Elliott