Squad:

Darren (GK)
Tony O
Jim
Mark
Nigel
Richie
Nick H
Paul Price
Dave
Ada
Steve
Nobby
Peter C
Ian
Les

A lovely bright winter’s morning greeted walking footballers from Ramsgate and BayCity in this the third edition of our annual big pitch 15 aside game with a difference, corners, throw ins and headers along with no overhead rule made it a completely different game to what we are all used to. A fairly even opening few minutes as both teams took a little while to adjust to the unique playing rules saw play mostly in the middle of the pitch as neither keeper was seriously troubled. Les opened the scoring as he was played clear, a calm finish putting us a goal up, it was soon two nil, Paul clipped a free kick in to the area and Peter was on hand to divert the ball into the goal with a deft header. The first twenty minutes ended with Strollers in control and pressing for a third without ever being in danger at the back as we kept our shape well with a disciplined defensive display.

The next period saw us maintain our momentum with numerous chances to increase our lead thwarted time and again, some last ditch defending along with Rob handling well in the home goal kept us at bay. As ever in our wonderful game if you don’t take your chances you will invariably be punished, we did get a big wake up call as we conceded a penalty for combined running offences, thankfully Darren was alert as he pushed the resulting kick over the bar. We now had a bit of a torrid time as a number of corner kicks were conceded and the deficit was eventually halved as a goal mouth scramble pulled a back just before half time.

The second half saw a Ramsgate equaliser, a ball into our box was well headed in by an opposing forward, all square and all our hard work undone. We were now under a bit of pressure with all to play for, gradually though we got back on the front foot, twice we played out with simple passing, first Dave from distance gave us the lead in a repeat of both his goals from last year. Les then restored our two goal advantage as he again was played clear, a calm and composed finish was never in doubt.

The final twenty minutes saw both sides score, first Paul gave us considerable breathing space as he found the corner of the goal from the edge of the area, with just a minute or two remaining the final goal was scored, thankfully no time left to put us under pressure and no more threats on our goal.

Big thanks to Simon for refereeing, it was a bit feisty now and again and with the different rules to enforce it was never an easy task.

Notable performances from our perspective firstly from Darren in goal, some assured handling and a penalty save all the time hindered by a very dodgy knee. Mark in defence gave us some much needed mobility, not long to go know before league football, Tony O for not running, Paul, Dave and Ada in the engine room with Les, Ian and guest Peter C leading the line, to every one though for coming along and making the morning the success is was. 

Lastly thanks to Rob Cheshire for organising and all the Gits for hosting us again, it really is great to be involved in this, long may this fixture continue to be a part of both our clubs calendar.