Sevenoaks 2 – 2 GWHC2s

Gravesham and Wellcome arrived in Sevenoaks fully prepared on the memory of the previous fixture against this oppo. They were the only team the Gravesham side had felt unable to get anywhere near. But those were early days and this team has come so far – what would this day bring?
The game plan was simple, don’t get hemmed in like before and go for short corners as the best chance of getting a result– everything else in between would be a battle and a test of game management.

The game started as expected – Sevenoaks pushing hard and with plenty of flair and the Gravesham side struggling to find a way in. Two brilliant youngsters in the home side causing havoc with the Gravesham midfield and defence. So much they managed to grab an early goal, neatly taken.

1-0 within the first 10 minutes and wondering what the reaction would be. More of the same would come but the occasionally sniff going up the other end too, though half chances at best. As time went on Vice-Captain Si Bradley marshalling his defence would begin to “figure them out” – understanding what they were doing and how to make life more difficult, if not stop them.
Then another goal for Sevenoaks – a chance apparently going wide but inadvertently deflected in off a defenders stick – 2-0 and a game looking tougher.

Up the other end and chances to claw something back. Jordan Jenkins having a drag flick picked off the far post, Owen Walton just missing a low one to the near post, and from open play Zak Rowland having his deflected shot saved off the back post after a screamer of a ball from Alex Spurgeon.
Half time would finish 2-0.

A rallying cry from the Captain – “this game is not over… we aren’t far away from matching them”.
Spirits high as the second half started and the game very much felt in the balance with GWs having the better of the attacking play now that the GW defence was snuffing out most of what Sevenoaks could muster. They were superbly covered by storming performances by both blockers Jon Booth and Reuben Morphew.

Hard work from Rowland would earn a short corner and that was dispatched to the far post for the deflection off Aaron Elliott. That was saved but he was there for the rebound to send the ball into the gap that had appeared “like the parting of the Red Sea”. 2-1 and Sevenoaks were beginning to panic.
Moments later excellent play from Eren Basch and Amit Ubhi would find Boothy approaching the D – firing a cross that evaded all Sevenoaks players but, bouncing all the way, it would agonisingly prove too awkward for Elliott to deflect, arriving near the P-Spot.

More work with Oli Atkinson finding Walton who’s hard work would earn another short. This time a drag-flick from Jenkins would sail sweetly into the net and put the Gravesham side back on level terms. 2-2.

Time for more – GWs piled on more pressure with an excellent pass from Walton finding Rowland in the D for an effort – saved by the keeper!

Just a few minutes left and more drama as Sevenoaks sought to pull the game back at the death. Two short corners earned from their trickster youngsters – the first a routine that worked up until the intended scorer (their injector) hit the wrong side of the back(side) board – and the second with everybody sprinting back the defence was able to clear.

Game over; a hard fought draw and a hugely impressive performance against a team that had come down from the league above, they hadn’t been able to get near earlier in the season, and who if they won would have gone top of the league.
Outstanding.

Man of the match: Jon Booth