MatchReports

On the back of a convincing win against the Royals, the Geese hoped for more of the same against Broxbourne Athletic. Broxbourne were without centre midfielder Martin Belsey who turned his back on them to join the Geese, leaving his injured father Paul to earn his crust alone. The starting line up differed from last week, due to both injury and absences. Manager Paul Cully called up Tony Vullo, Jimmy Musk and Danny Hearn to make the full debuts in a Geese shirt.

Early on The Geese couldn’t find their feet, finding themselves having to soak up pressure on both wings from well-worked throws. We were stuck in a low gear, finding it hard to pass the ball and keep motivated. We were lucky not to concede, but knew we had to dig deep and our chance would come. It did come. A great move down the left saw Vullo pick out Cully. Cully turned and layed it onto Musk, who drilled in a low cross for Cedrone to convert from close range having cut in from the right flank. The first short passing move of the game proved to be the way to hurt Broxbourne whose pressure eased off allowing the Geese to get on top half way through the first half.

Ten minutes later a similar move started from a one-two between Perry and Belsey who picked out Musk again majestically delivering a cross shot for Brett Norris the hungry hungry hippo to blast in for the Geese’s second. Two-Nil at half time, but although the Geese were content, they knew they had to raise their game to stay on top. Without injured Ellebeck and absent Paul Dodd, both Brett Norris and Matt Cully were doing there best to hold up the ball and create chances. The next ten minutes were crucial, 2-1 or 3-0 the next goal could decide the way the game swung. So far the defence was holding out, Craig Norris leading by example. Midway through the half chances were minimal, the game very much a scrappy midfield battle.

An attack from Broxbourne forced a throw on at the byline, the ball scrambled through the box to the feet of Athletics’ poaching left-winger. As he lined up his shot, sure to go in, out of nowhere came the pubic haired legs of Andy Perry, tackling and saving the Geese heroically. The Geese were holding on, but still pushing on for that third goal to seal it. Belsey carving out a neat passage of passing with Jimmy saw him bitten by a Broxbourne midfielder. Martin, unable to speak went into a zombie-like state, squealing like a girly-girl.

Broxbourne fought back to get something from the game, a move from the left wrong-footed our defence, the No 9 slotting home between Danny Hearn’s legs of steel. The pressure was on with ten minutes to go, Broxbourne changing their formation to play three up front, but this tactical change was short-lived as a challenge from the No 10 on Andy Perry, left referee Paul Fuller no option but to issue the player with a second yellow card, resulting in the player being asked to leave the pitch. Fresh legs were introduced in the shape of Bradley Hewitt who replaced injured Martin Belsey, and a little later a heated Matt Cully made way for Willicoodle. The clock was slowly ticking down, and a late surge of long balls and free kicks hit our box. But the Geese held on, just doing enough to hold onto the 2-1 score line.

Pino Packer caught up with Paul Cully after the game : “I don’t want to say too much, I will talk to my players on Wednesday evening, I’m pleased with the points and we battled very hard to hold onto our lead. Paul Cully’s scissor Plan, Bum flap Danny Dan.”

Ratings - D Hearn 7, A Castiglione 7, C Norris 8, S Adamson 7, T Vullo 7, J Musk 7, M Belsey 7 (B Hewitt 6), A Perry 9, C Cedrone 8, M Cully 7 (A Willicombe 6), B Norris 7. Subs not used. D Phipps, D Perry, R Cully

After a heated friendly on Astroturf against Lea Valley Royal Reserves, only the gods could have brought the two clubs together for the first competitive fixture of the campaign. As anticipated the Royals fielded a similar team to that in the friendly, supporting a mass of Portuguese athletes to compete against the Geese.

From the off it was clear that the heat was to effect the pace, and to test the fitness of the two teams. The Geese started well, keeping the ball, shutting down early and looking for the through balls against an ageing defence and a gloveless keeper. The early pressure resulted in a barricade of corners with Matthew Cully whipping in a great ball for Craig Norris to head in low to the keepers right. 1-0 to the Geese and deservedly so.

The next five minutes were crucial, as a team is at its most vulnerable when it has just scored (Quote from Andy Gray) but both focus and pressure and another forced corner saw Craig Norris collect again on the edge of the box this time heading for the by-line to get in a cross of his own when he was tripped. Referee Paul Cooper pointed to the spot. Paul Dodd stepped up to convert for the Geese’s second, as the ball hit the net absent twin brother Neal Dodd (on holiday) felt a mini explosion in his Speedos.

As the first half came to a close a move from the front two saw Dodd square to Ellerbeck who was controversially ruled offside. The third Goal threatened again as Chris Cedrone dribbled round three defenders and the keeper, but unluckily failed to convert. 2-0 at half time, exhaustion had the better of the Geese, but discipline was superb in the ranks, encouragement oozing for the players from the 42 strong supporting Goslings (Tony Perry official attendance count) singing in the sun.

Before half time Brett Norris was introduced as Matt Cully had to be replaced due to heat exhaustion. The second half proved a little more difficult for the Geese, heavy legs causing passes to go astray. Jimmy Musk replaced Steve Adamson who did well to play seventy minutes on his first game back from injury (dropping a radio on his foot).

The game became scrappy as Lee Ellerbeck was caught and suffered a suspected dislocated knee, Tony Vullo replacing him to form a five man midfield to soak up the pressure, leaving Dodd to play up top on his own. Paul Cully’s tactical gamble paid off as a solo effort from Paul Dodd saw him touch, turn and drill past the keeper to make it the Geese’s third and Dodd’s brace.

With ten minutes left on the clock a free kick just outside the box saw the Royals Keeper focus past the allegations to take his cap off and struck the ball, deflecting off Andy Perry’s head and over Craig Belsey, playing solidly through-out had no chance.
The butcher controlled his area whilst cutting Paul and Jenny’s chops for Sunday roast.

3-1 to the Geese, Paul Cully smiling, Pino Packer our touchline reporter got the following statement from the man in charge. “I’m pleased with the boys, the first half went well but we missed too many chances. I have faith in my players but in January when the transfer window re-opens we might have to bring a couple in. It was very hot, hot hot heat, the heat plus a butcher, equals cooked Geese meat.”

Ratings - C Belsey 8, A Castiglione 8, C Wicks 8, C Norris 9, S Adamson 8 (J Musk 6), M Belsey 8, A Perry 6, M Cully 6 (B Norris 6), C Cedrone 7, L Ellerbeck 6 (T Vullo 6), P Dodd 6. Subs not used, D Perry.

After warming up for 50 minutes with no sign of our opposition, the feeling amongst the gaggle was somber, everyone anticipated a no-show in the pouring rain, nothing but thoughts of an 8-a-side training match between ourselves on a pitch full of Dog-dirt.

Now only 10 minutest till kick off, a bit of detective work was needed, thankfully after some time on the blower, the conclusion revealed we were on the wrong pitch, a great start to the season ahead. We moved our gathering over the main road, and as our ref was wet he decided to lie about his role in our match to spend time eating his Sunday roast with his children and catalogue wife. Lucky for us Neal was on hand to Referee, Lucky for Neal he was wearing Speedos.

Having a mass of players to select from in these early days meant that we were going to be able to take advantage of the “Roll on Roll off” rule used in friendlies. We were to start with a systematic X1 and planned to change the shape of the team set up as fresh legs were introduced. As thought, the weather conditions made it difficult to get the ball down and play some attractive attacking football, but as the first half progressed a great move from Paul Dodd split the defence with a through ball – assisting Lee Ellebeck to convert from inside the box.

One-Nil to the Geese at half time but Brookside had their fair share of chances going close on a couple of occasions. Our defence was holding out, the centre pairing of Wicks and Craig Norris looking very established for its first day at the races. At the break the Gaffer pointed out a few things to work on in the second half, and after a more positive start to the half the advice paid off – Another exciting move from Paul Dodd saw him add a second. This was closely followed by a Matthew Cully Cross-shot that looped in after a slight deflection off a defender for the Geese’s third. Another move saw Brett Norris link up with Dodd again who turned his man in the box and powered in from short range.

The Geese looked home and dry, and perhaps this was the problem. The foot was taken off the gas slightly and this allowed Brookside to convert three times in the last 25 minutes, making the Geese victory very marginal.

Manager Paul Cully had the following statement to say as our touchline reporter Pino Packer caught up with him at full time: “The boys have watched the goals back and we can see how the errors came about, maybe it was good to learn a lesson like this in pre-season. We will take the positives and hope to move on and learn from today’s performance”

So Despite that late Surge from Brookside the Geese narrowly held on for their first pre-season victory, although the score was unimportant to the players, it gave the paying fans what they wanted to see.