GWHC2s 2 – 4 Folkestone Optimists

Upbeat from their previous weeks performance GWHC2s welcomed a high flying Folkestone team expecting a tough challenge. This was a test they were looking forward to.
Pre-game the team reflected on how Folkestone had beaten Newenden 5-0 and they were expected to have the same ability as them but with energy levels comparable to the Gravesham side.
From the off Folkestone were on the front foot applying pressure enough to be awarded a short corner within 3 minutes. There was suspicion of a Folkestone foot before it was awarded and had it happened later in the game the Captain might have challenged the umpires on it. He should have. A well-worked short corner, albeit with what looked like an illegal blocking manoeuvre, ended up hitting the backboard and the umpires awarded goal.
Pressure would continue but without Folkestone managing to muster any clear cut chances, though having one wild swing at goal from top D with a reverse that sent it to Mars, high and wide and then some. GW began to get into the game and managed to earn a short corner of their own. Left slip to Brayden Warner would sadly see his effort misdirected from goal. A few minutes later another short corner after hard work by Amit Ubhi. This time Alex Spurgeon would have a go, drag flick low to the left, but just wide. Moments later disaster.
Folkestone up the other end had their second clear cut chance, and scored their second goal. From being close to being 1-1 GW now found themselves 2-0 down. But, all was not lost – the team had recovered from 2-0 down the previous week and have a steely determination not to give up.
An attack up the other end culminated in Owen Excell finding Zak Rowland who hammered home a tap in after a deflected pass – the Folkestone goalkeeper had been sniffing out other danger so that the goal would come via a deflection was no surprise.
Having got back into the game Folkestone went up the other end and managed to extend their lead again – looking to go into half-time on a comfortable footing.
Gravesham had other ideas. Great work from the Reuben Morphew would end with Warner scoring his second goal in 2 games – and like the previous week deflected off an opposition stick to take it into the goal! Half time 2-3.

Positive about their performance the Captain offered tips on how the goalkeeper was playing – he was coming out fast so the advice was to turn away and draw the foul, or let him go down and lift it over him.
The second half would continue with GW just edging the midfield battle, though with the occasional break through that their defenders would have to deal with. Some piercing attacking play was coming from the Gravesham side and they went close with Warner pulling the ball back from the by-line for Aaron Elliott to convert – but his effort would go painfully just outside of the top -left of the woodwork. Every other time he probably scores. They would rue the miss.

What could have been 3-3 was now 4-2 as Folkestone worked up the other end to score.
Up the other end a brilliantly hit ball from Vice Captain Si Bradley would find Elliotts stick but the angle was too shallow and the ball went wide.
Not giving up and looking more dangerous GWHC would have two more glorious opportunities before the game was out. One falling to Excell on the P-spot who would miss the ball and another, a pass from Alex Spurgeon that bounced agonisingly over Elliots stick on the back post for what should have been a goal.
It was a spirited performance and one that the team could be proud of for the second of three tough games. On another day they would win that game - 6 or 7 good chances to 4 or 5 from the oppo. It just wasn’t meant to be. In the end maybe the misses were from the over exertion – the effort was tremendous. They move on, pleased that another game has seen them compete and confident that something might be possible next week against Burnt Ash.

Goal scorers: Zak Rowland and Brayden Warner.
Man of the match: Alex Spurgeon.