Won 2-0
Scorers: John Aikin, Tony Jones
MoM: Sir Geoff Philpott as we don’t give it to the same player 2 weeks in a row for ‘equality & inclusivity’ reasons so Trigger would have got otherwise!
With thanks to team sponsor MFri
A home game on a wet and windy day promised a difficult contest for both teams especially after a warm up that proved a bit too physical for one Friar but that is the Friars for you.!
Within a couple of minutes of push back the Friars defence had proved that they were going to have to put in a shift especially from on-form Trigger who pulled an impressive save out of the locker with a couple of minutes.
It seemed that if Friars were to score it would be from a breakaway move and so it proved as John Boy Aikin set himself up in the D and scored with a trade mark reverse hit from an assist from Isaac.
The last 10 minutes of the first half and for virtually the whole of the second half then belonged to Gravesham but only territorially. Literally for the for the first 10 minutes of the second half the umpire (Geordie H) in the Friars half did not blow his little whistle whilst 12 short corners were conceded by the Friars defence for one reason or another, most acceptable, but three of them for not retreating 5 yards by the same person (no names here but he plays cricket) so that meant detention afterwards. Phil, the other umpire had to put in a big shift himself.
However joking aside the defence were tremendous, with Sir Geoff Philpott, his badly cut hand of last week healed (incurred in heroically supplying cauliflowers to the masses of Thanet and Polo Farm), was outstanding; Trigger in goal just had one of his red letter days; Mike Barton resplendent in his cycling “very soft” cap (to comply with EH Regs) commanding; Biggles now with a hole in his shin incurred 6 weeks ago at Holcombe brave, and Cllr. Alex Ricketts vocally ear splitting charging forward at short corners, all putting big shifts, along with an effective mid field of Euan, Brian, Tom Parkin and Jamie Harris. The forward line when it operated of Archie, Isaac and the skipper also performed really well.
But again it was to be a breakaway that sealed the win when having woken up the other umpire Aikin took off having won the ball, so all thought “here we go – 2 goal Aikin”, but not to be – because, in an example of supreme selflessness that all strikers apparently possess, he passed to Corporal Jones unmarked and goal hanging 10 metres from the Gravesham left post. It was one of those moments but Jonesy did actually score showing what he does for England over 85s but rarely replicates for the Friars. RESULT: Jonesy his white locks flowing happily in the rain and John Boy glowing with a halo over his head for the supremely generous assist.
The puff went out of a very good natured Gravesham team at this point. They were resigned to Simon “that ball will not pass me” Triggs who, happy days was able to chalk up another point on his kitchen fridge for a clean sheet with his nearest and dearest who has to score a goal to secure bragging rights.
Thanks to the 2 umpires for playing the advantage rule to great effect. Phil (Sandy) feeling like a drowned rat then went onto umpire the game following in which Triggs also played (owing to an injury) but not quite with the success he had with the Friars. The other umpire (The Scribbler) escaped to a warm shower, pint and chips.