Won 2-1
Scorers: Alex Ricketts, John Aikin
MoM: Ally Alexander
DoD: Teamo/Sevenoaks for putting wrong postcode in for the pitch
This week the Friars found themselves enjoying the morning sunshine at Sevenoaks‘ Holly Bush Lane venue.
Sevenoaks scored first and early, their silver haired striker claiming what was rumoured to be his 529th for the club. However, the Friars dug deep and were not disheartened, taking the battle to their opponents.
The equaliser came from an aggressively struck short corner from Alex. The eyes of the Friars ‘big unit’ moistening with emotion as the demons of last week’s embarrassing own goal (which somehow got omitted from the match report and the subsequent alleged cover up!) were hopefully laid to rest…
There was more drama when Tony (our very own silver haired striker though not with 529 goals-ed) ran onto a through ball and forced a great save from the Sevenoaks keeper, but the score remained 1-1 at half time.
There followed a very competitive second half with end to end play. As usual there was outstanding work from Trigger and the defensive team.
The midfield, bolstered by the ever energetic Ally who managed to get to the correct pitch somehow, despite the skipper telling everyone to go to Paddock Wood or nowhere depending upon which Sat Nav everyone was using, battled tirelessly and were well marshalled by team medic Dr Jolyon who looks like he has found a permanent berth in The Friars. Young Louis ran rings round his opponents and was at one point flattened by a clumsy middle aged oaf, maintaining his composure while the oaf lost his!
Upfront many chances were created. The match winning goal came from a well worked move initiated by Jolyon and Louis finding Arthur on the right, then a perfect cross into the D and a first time lifted strike from his father (who he-ed?) into the back of the net.
A 2-1 win for the Friars and almost certain promotion.
Beer and lucozade flowed back at the Vine with the hosts laying on very enjoyable refreshments of sausages and buttered baked potato with beans. Fine fare indeed with the youngsters somehow discovering and tucking into a huge platter of chocolate digestives. They’d earned them!