GWHC2s travelled to Marden to face the team propping up the rest of the league in the penultimate game of the season. Win this and they knew they would be setting themselves up for a promotion shootout with Burnt Ash the coming week.

Easy task? It might have been – but for 9 players missing through medical ailments and family commitments and a long hard think to find solutions. Into the void stepped Amit Ubhi, returning having been accidentally playing 3s all season – and Darren Laws, Mr Versatile able to help in most positions across the pitch. Nav Tung added to his few appearances this season plugging a gap at centre back and the last piece of the puzzle saw Mason Lock valiantly stepping into the right wingback role – a position he has helped at when required throughout the season.

The pre-game speech from the Captain made clear – today was all about the result.

The opening 10 minutes got off to a great start with the Gravesham side on the front foot – probing Marden and seeking out weaknesses. But chances seemed hard to fashion for the effort being put in. As time elapsed they found themselves being drawn deeper in their half and the game began to feel like a real struggle.
A couple of short corners were awarded Marden and they looked dangerous but were ably dealt with by the defence and Jack McManus keeping goal.

Then came the breakthrough with 5 minutes of the half remaining. The Marden pressure meant GW were able to play on the counter (who’d have thought they were the team chasing promotion!). A quick release from Chris ‘Chip’ Bradley to Elliott just beyond the halfway line saw an exquisite one-touch pass putting Mike Silverton through on goal with the keeper and one defender to beat. First shot saved but he was able to hit the netting from the rebound with a second defender coming in. 1-0. That man has found his form at EXACTLY the right moment in the season! Huge relief.

Gravesham applied a half-court press to see out the half with the advantage to the away team.

The half-time talk had much to reflect on. GW had vacated the middle of the pitch and needed to stagger their structure a little to put more pressure further up and stop inviting Marden on. The left felt good but they needed the right wingback to be more adventurous and reactive at getting forward to help with the attacking which was a big struggle. The forwards needed more first-time and early balls put into the D. The way the pitch played meant any ball might bobble through and it would only need a touch in the D to get those goals.

The second half started and GW had the bit between their teeth with Chip making a big nuisance of himself and helping apply huge pressure to Marden. But, a soft short corner was given away at the other end and Marden tucked it away to peg the score back 1-1. They had to do it all again.

Great work saw Silverton released down the right and fashion a cross across the goal for Elliott to beat the defender to and squeeze it high into the corner of the net above the out-stretched goalkeeper. 2-1.

The game still felt in the balance owing to how luck might fall but GW defintely felt they were the team in more control. The defensive wall of Chip and John Booth with Tung and today’s Vice-Captain Si Bradley behind was standing firm. When the smallest of gaps opened up McManus was there to comfortably deal with the pressure.

Then the third goal 3-1 and surely now they were on their way to wrapping up the points.
More chances did come Mardens way that drew some nice saves from McManus – one that appeared it might loop over him only for his stick to encourage it over – it epitomised the day this guy was having!
Amit was making some nice passes dropping deep from a forwards role and as the game wound down to a close Laws secured up the right back position using some experienced technical fouls to disrupt and slow down the play.

Then with 2 minutes to go Simcock found Elliott with a beaut of a pass through the middle that he attempted to one-touch deflect goalwards past the defender and keeper. It was soft, it was weak, and so was the clearance – back at him for a second go. A turn away from goal and a slight shimmy away from the defender and he smacked it hard past both into the corner. 4-1, game, set, match.

Next week they now play Burnt Ash in a game that could see the winner promoted.
Burnt Ash outright, Gravesham & Wellcome would need Cliftonville to draw away to Canterbury. In a week where the clubs young 1st team were gloriously promoted as champions – this 2s team have the quirk of fate that are leagues which means despite only being 1 point fewer – promotion is not certain. But – they will be giving it their best shot!

Man of the match: Jack McManus