Won 5-0
Scorers: Ally Alexander, Arthur Aikin, Louis Bennett, John Aikin, Tony Jones.
MoM: Arthur Aikin
DoD: Geordie Hayward for missing two goals with his snapper
To the last game of the most successful Friars season ever, played in salubrious downtown Gillingham behind high MOD fencing as no doubt the Friars are a classified security risk with some dubious characters Philpott, Ward, Barton and Ricketts in defence. In addition this was also a decider for second place in the League.
Outstanding first goal from Ally Alexander after a pin point accuracy pass from Arthur Aikin who proceeded to slot one himself next up. Score 2-0 at half time with Old Willies pressing hard and the Friars defence having to dig deep in the pouring rain not least as Mike Barton had to take a little rest courtesy of the OW umpire.
Old Willies fell away in the second half until the very end when at least a dozen short corners were conceded by the Friars defence but Trigger was in no mood for his backboard to be rattled and he wanted to notch up another win on his domestic fridge.
Before that young Louis Bennett scored his debut senior goal followed by John Aikin scoring a clinical flick.
Suitably the last goal of the match, indeed the Friars season and quite possibly his career (just hedgin’ your scribbler’s options as this cannot be confirmed) was fired (or even headed in) in in dramatic style by a diving Tony Jones from Arthur Aitken – yet another assist. Yes I know, hard to believe that an 80 year old would lay his body on the line having done the same in the first half without scoring and finding himself flat on his back. However the attached pic gives all the evidence you need of his heroics and subsequent grazed little finger which he proudly showed us in the pub!
For the record Alex Ricketts didn’t score – at either end.
There being no pubs in hobbling distance post match the Friars decamped to The Elephant – that excellent hostelry in Faversham to celebrate second place and the 47 points they have got in the League (normally the total is around in the 17 points relegation area).
And so onward to the Club supper on 19th May and the Friars Team supper in June.
Squad: Simon Triggs (GK), John Aikin, Arthur Aikin, Mike Barton, Tony Jones (C), John Ratcliff, Alex Ricketts, Chris Ward, Ally Alexander, Geoff Philpott, Tom Rogers, Louis Bennett. Photographer: Geordie Hayward
