Won 3-2
Scorers: Theo Pilkington, Paul Sharratt, Thomas Newell
MoM: Theo Pilkington
With thanks to team sponsor MMil http://www.batchelorcoop.co.uk
Looking to increase the clubs carbon footprint, while similtaneously making an intimidating entrance, the ‘Bachelor-Coop’ Millers twelve car motorcade rolled into Herne Bay Sports Hub shortly before high noon. A new look team, still featuring some ‘vintage’ members, making their first appearance in a new (lower) league this season.
The opening exchanges of the encounter were fairly even and, at times, the long summer break was showing in some of the early passing. However, following a ‘calibration period’, the Millers forced the home keeper into several fine saves to deny them the lead. Likewise, Chris Goulden, in goal for the visitors, repelled the home-side from several fast break-away goal attempts. However, finding themselves temporarily down to ten just before the half time break, it was the Millers who conceded a soft goal from some sloppy defending.
Half time was a (mainly) positive affair, but Herne Bay came out of the blocks fast in the second half and forced a short corner within seconds of the re-start. The home side duly converted this opportunity and the Millers found themselves in a frighteningly familiar position: two goals down! Like all good Hollywood films though, finding themselves on the ropes and with the count-down in progress, the Millers’ internal movie soundtrack sprang into life and Theo Pilkington shot home from close range just minutes later. With their dander well and truly up, a well-struck short corner from midfield maestro, Paul Sharratt, brought parity to the game midway through the half.
The visitors continued to create opportunities up front, with Martin Long-Castro playing well and, very evidently, frustrating his much bigger opposite number! With ten minutes to go, and following a quick transition out from the Millers defence, Tom Newell deftly rounded a Herne Bay defender and struck low from the top of the D, past the on-rushing keeper, to finally give the visitors a well-deserved lead. Herne Bay mounted a final flurry of attacks but Goulden was equal to these and thus the Millers found themselves with three points in the bag and their highest league position of the last two years.
The ‘Ginsters’ man of the match award went to Theo Pilkington this week and, apparently in line with their skippers new positive ethos, there was no DoD awarded. Coincidentally, this announcement came after (much) pre-match comment around their redoubtable leaders ‘sizing estimations’ for the new team shirts. Indeed, some senior players were shoe-horned into what appeared to be shirts intended for one of the junior squads. Post-match, these same individuals were rushed to hospital to have their new shirt removed and receive treatment for minor crush injuries and severe nipple-chafe!