GWHC2s 6 - 1 Blackheath

Gravesham & Wellcome 2s welcomed Blackheath for a game where they had points to prove.
Point one, they didn’t appreciate Blackheath loading their team to avoid relegation in the previous seasons fixture (bottom of the league demolishing a team that was on form and hunting promotion).
Point two, the team had been through 3 excellent matches and each time felt like they deserved more.

Focus for the game was on point and made up for a couple of last minute ‘tweaks’ as the team shuffled round with news superstar blocker Reuben Morphew was unable to play through some diabetic troubles. Simple changes, Nav Tung into blocker where he played last season and Alex Spurgeon to Left-Back having impressed the captain there a few weeks prior. Si Bradley would remain as Centre Back while Richard Atwood continues to recover form a hamstring injury.
Further forward Jordan Jenkins was to play the ACM role where it was expected he would be able to facilitate the passing game the team are looking for and Amit Ubhi moved to RW where he can continue with his dynamic running to brutal effect. Oli Atkinson away this week meant Zak Rowland would start LW and Steve Caulfield accompanied the Captain in the forward line.
The Captain felt this team with players in position had every chance of being devastatingly good. Now they just needed to play to it.

From the go the home side went on the attack with Caulfield and Aaron Elliott causing problems so that they scored within 2 minutes – Eren Basch assisting Caulfield through the tightest of gaps in off the near right post. 1 – 0.

More chances would fall to Elliott but the goalkeeper was proving tough to pass. Up the other end the team faced down 3 or 4 short corners in the space of 15 minutes as the game flowed end to end but with GW seeming to create the better chances.

Then a moment of beauty.
Tung firing a pass towards the back post through a number of players for Rowland coming from nowhere to burst round and deflect the ball high over the keeper and into the roof of the net. One for the memory bank and a goal any experienced striker would have been proud of. 2 – 0 and the team could begin to relax a little.

A couple of short corners would come their way then Jenkins, seeing how the defenders had spread lifted a perfect drag flick into the net. 3 – 0.
Time for one more before the half time whistle, Caulfield would squeeze another against the post and in off the goalkeeper. Half time 4 – 0.

The half time message was to keep up the pressure and treat the game as 0 – 0. Experience shows teams can come back from a set back like this if they are allowed to, the Gravesham side needed to find their ruthless streak to see out this game and put a marker down in the league.

The second half began as the first had finished – plenty of glorious attacking play with some very impressive passing. Then the next goal came. Jenkins to Elliott, Elliott to Rowland on the overlap, Elliott continuing his run into the D and Rowland behind Elliott to Caulfield lurking at the back unmarked to slot home. 5 – 0.

Sadly no clean sheet though – Blackheath managing to catch goalkeeper Keaton Gates out at the other end by way of a defensive mishap.

More attacking play would give the home side further chances, another sequence of passes culminated with Ubhi perfectly positioned just outside the D to receive a rebound from an effort by Elliott, stepping in and sweeping it high into the net with the goalkeeper still flailing around on the floor after Elliotts shot.

Time for another? Caulfield thought he had 4 before the umpire blew for an infringement and the team could rest. 6 – 1 the final score.

The team had managed to eclipse their excellent performances from recent games and jack things up to another level with some play that could have seen them find double figures but for a hugely impressive Blackheath goalkeeper.
The team could enjoy their Christmas break proud of where they are and excited for the second half of the season to come.

Man of the match: Jordan Jenkins