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Monday 10 August 2015

A fresh approach to away days...

With Three Bridges fancying themselves for the play-offs, at least, following a good pre-season the forecast snow was nowhere to be seen, replaced instead by a generous helping of hot sun.

The first Llama Express of the season  made swift progress from Victoria and a short hop and a skip from Three Bridges station we found ourselves in the Snooty Fox. Big and busy with no respite from football on TV and a decent enough choice of fine ales and continental lagers (Babycham and white wine was available for 'the ladies'). All in all, despite our previous reservations, a good watering hole on the way to a game.

Jubilee Field looks just as it looked on our previous visits. The clubhouse with it's '80s social club feel (nothing wrong with that though), a teabar serving an above average bacon cheeseburger (ok, the average product in football grounds isn't great but I quite liked this one) and a hard bumpy pitch, which didn't look as if it had been watered since the great snowstorm in January.

Before kick off I asked Sticks if the club was concentrating on improving away results. Yes he replied. Not for me to reveal the formation here but suffice to say the aim is to restrict the number of goals conceded whilst looking to create and score on the break. Don't expect to see us playing 3-5-2 on Tuesday night in Surrey for a while.

The match saw the home side enjoy the majority of possession and it took us a while to get going in the first half. We did create the best opportunities however, including Zico going close from just outside the box and Rocco missing what would normally be bread and butter to him from a few yards out.

There was some frustration behind the goal caused by balls seemingly played into empty space but this was probably symptomatic of a move away from the gung ho approach we've seen in the past. The break through came when Ross Allen went out to the left to pick up a pass that followed a superb challenge by Gus Mackay midway into our own half. Dom Heaume moved in to the fill the void and Rocco crossed for Dom to tap in from a couple of yards out.

Second half was a bit different with the hosts pressing hard but the lads worked tirelessly in defence, the only real slip coming just before the equaliser when we were, collectively, a bit slow to react.

No one foresaw the finale however with Cockers ghosting into space in the box to connect his head to a  Crusher McGrath corner, finishing with some aplomb it has to be said.

All things considered a very good three points and, hopefully, a taste of things to come more often than not this season.

Elsewhere there were notable wins for Dorking Wanderes (4-0 away to Wednesday's opponents Carshalton Athletic), Chatham (4-0 away at Peacehaven) and Hastings (6-0 home to Chipstead). Probably need to note that Peacehaven have lost a good number from last season's squad and Chipstead played 25 minutes with 9 men due to injuries, although Hastings were well in control and had the game all but won by then).

Finally, the answer to the question 'why is the Folkestone game kicking off at 4pm?'. Our understanding is that Folkestone requested an overnight stay on the Saturday (which they are paying for incidentally) and a slightly later flight from the UK. The mid-morning flight turned out not to be an option so they're on a lunchtime flight making 4pm the earliest practical kick-off time. And, yes, the eggchasers are playing on the same day but they've not put their kick off time back to 7.30.

If only Folkestone away would kick off at 3 so Ash could look on in horror whilst seafood is devoured over lunch at the harbour side.

Keep it Green

Allez les Verts!!






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