Hope of a easy win and goal-fest to go with it was reported to be the expectation of the travelling Eastbourne first XI as they made their way to a sun blushed Polo Farm for their encounter with the Pilgrims this week. Talk of a walk over was rapidly dismissed in the pre game, Churchillian, motivational talk lead by the Captain in the changing rooms! Luckily all of the Canterbury players made it to the start line of the contest after a slight issue with ‘friendly fire’ in the warm up!
Canterbury got off to good start, controlling the midfield with the younger members of the team carrying the workload for some of the older/wiser/more stationary elder players in the squad. Canterbury went ahead from a perfectly executed PC flick from Hursty to the keepers bottom right. Unfortunately the initial optimism of 1 from 1 in the PC attack department was premature as the lack of conversion later in the game would ultimately cost the green and whites the 3 points. Minutes later and the lead was doubled with some nice passing in the D and another finish from the Hursty made it 2-0 Canterbury.
A half of 2 halfs could be a fair description as legs started to tire and gaps in the Canterbury defence started to appear. A move down the right ended with a cross from the baseline and with a couple of defenders slightly out of position Eastbourne were back in the game 2-1. Aristotle said ‘to make a mistake once is ok, but to repeat it almost immediately at 4.25pm on a Saturday at Polo Farm is unforgivable’ which considering he died nearly 2 and a half thousand years ago shows some foresight as that is exactly what happened. Eastbourne down the right, back post tap in- 2-2 going into the break.
Hopes were high going into the second half and with a number of short corners to their name it looked as if the Grims could take the scalp of second in the league. Alas, the back of the net was never struck and as Eastbourne had a full squad of players, coaches and even some bloke filming on a drone their added legs and training came to fruition with one of the Canterbury midfield over indulging on the ball in the middle having it nicked off him and no longer having the speed or physique to return him to goal side, Eastbourne went 3 then 4 then 5-2 up.
Throwing the kitchen sink at Eastbourne brought Canterbury a consolation goal at the end through great finish from the skipper.
A tough result to take as a few fine margins determined the outcome of the game. Onwards next week to Burnt Ash to seek our revenge!