GWHC2s 1 - 3 Sevenoaks

The Gravesham side new this could be quite a tough challenge and so it proved playing a team coming down from the league above and evidently with fresh vigour.

From the start the game was played at high intensity with almost no time on the ball across the pitch, in stark contrast to the game the previous week. It would go on to prove quite a lesson.

After much pressure a nicely executed short corner routine from Sevenoaks would see them go 1-0 up after GW failed to close down the shot. For periods after that first goal the territorial play was shared somewhat but whenever GW had the ball their time allowed on it was extreme limited as they were consistently closed down fast. Unfortunately this would lead to mistakes.

Following hard work down the right by Stu Marnham an attack that could have seen the score at 1-1 had the Captain Aaron Elliott latching on to a through ball but failing to take a touch he would flounder in front of goal.
Then a couple of defensive mistakes would lead to a rare mixup at the back as Sevenoaks were gifted possession before tucking away their second goal, 2-0. Half time.

The team were struggling to play at the high pace Sevenoaks were setting and struggling to break out into attack. The half time talk emphasised the need for faster transitioning between attack and defence and vice versa which Sevenoaks were doing in great numbers but the Gravesham side were slow to do.

The second half became much more even as hard work in the middle from Si Bradley, Jon Booth (Boothy) and Reuben Morphew would orchestrate some excellent phases of passing around the team. Sadly this would not lead to much in the way of attacking chances but for the efforts of Amit Ubhi bursting through on numerous occasions only to fall into a sea of purple.
Sevenoaks in the face of a stubborn Gravesham side became frustrated and talked their way into a couple of green cards, while GW maintained good discipline.

Despite the numerical advantage GW could not find a way through before, boosted by a return to full strength, Sevenoaks would get their third following a good move down their right.

Still time for some heroics, a minute from the end Sevenoaks would whistle a shot millimetres past the post harried by GK Keaton "Juan-Carlos" Gates before Zak Rowland found the backboard up the other end rebounding on a saved shot at the death.

3-1 against a team down from the league above, (1-1 second half) not what the team would have wanted but plenty learned. The opposition seemed stronger than league winners Marden last season and will certainly be up there challenging for the league at the end.

Goals: Zak Rowland
Man of the match: Zak Rowland.