Tooting Beckons

[hendo]

We won at their 'borrowed' place but more than half of that starting line up has since left, and Tooting are now way up the table so, as always, accurate predictions are tricky.
1-1 is the most common score in all World football, occurring in over 12% of matches, so, playing the odds, I'm going for 4-3.(0.29% of all matches) because nothing ever goes to plan at Weycourt which is why I will always be a proud G man.

[Shottermiller]

Gees 1 Tooting Bec 3

[greygraham]

Godalming 1 – 5 Tooting Bec



We had hoped for a win against promotion chasers Tooting Bec on the last game of the season at home. But, despite a reasonable performance, it was not to be. Tooting were armed with a flying number 11 Eddie Mibango who had one heck of a game and came away with four goals to his name.



The Gs fielded a more settled side and it was great to see Reegan Scotcher declared fit again after 5-6 weeks away. In the opening minutes Ollie Stevens in typical style showing strength and speed got himself in between the visiting keeper and his defender to poke a shot goal-wards that narrowly missed the target.



But the Gs defence which seemed to start with three in the back line was undone when a ball from the Tooting left wing was allowed to travel across the face of the goal for a close-range header to put the visitors 1-0 up almost immediately after Ollie went close.



Matters got worse when from a corner out on their right a first-time unstoppable volley was hit spectacularly into the Gs net to put Tooting 2-0 up with only 17 minutes gone.



For me the Gs were matching Tooting in the build-up play, but it was clear that the visitors had improved since we played them at their place and were a well organised and experienced side compared to the Gs youngsters.



Darren Wheeler delivered a cracking corner for the Gs out on their right at the road end and we saw Curtis Osano get up and place a glancing header inside the far post to bring the score back to 1-2. It was all to play for.



Gs mounted a fair bit of pressure on the visitor’s goal but could not convert their pressure into goals. Then another quick break out of defence saw that pesky number 11 gain his hat trick before half time when he was being challenged by Reegan, but somehow still manged to beat Jordan Knight as he came out to close down the angle.



3 - 1 down at half time.



Joe Lewis received a yellow card and then not long after was unfortunate to hurt himself as he cleared the ball away near the dugout touchline, the ball taking out a Tooting player as it struck his head. Joe fell awkwardly and the damage was done so he was taken to hospital as a precaution. Hope he is on the mend now. Dom Hardisty came on for him.



Shortly after Donte who had another great game for me played Kenny in and he went beautifully around the visiting keeper only to be given as offside. Had that brought the score back to 3-2 who knows what would have happened.



But Tooting were not done for when that number 11 managed to squeeze another shot home at the near post from what appeared to be a very tight angle.



Darren was Yellow carded as he tried to help a Tooting player onto the bench.



Jake Heard came on for Richie Mbele in the middle. Richie unable to come up with another spectacular goal on this occasion.



Jordan the was unable to keep hold of a speculative long range shot which gave the visitors a close-range tap in to effectively finish things of.



Good to see Liam Gadd come on for Darren and make his mark on the game, even if some of the Gs supporters were unsure about the growth on his chin.



The Gs never gave up in a more dominant second half performance although the result was clear and Kenny got in a good shot that brought a great save from the visiting keeper at the death. You will see from the stats that we had plenty of pressure and corners but it was one of those days when the Tooting number 11 could do no wrong while the Gs can feel that they got little in the way of luck. But that is the way it goes.



Cannot make it to the game at Chessington so if someone else feels the urge to make a few notes that would be great. That also means I will not be able to make it to the awards evening, which is unfortunate. I think Les now has the basis of a very good squad for next season, if he can hold these lads together. Here’s to a great next season. Probably see a few of you before that.



COYGs.



Michaels stats:-



                              Gees                   Tooting Bec



attempts                   10                         11

on target                    6                      7 +2 w/w

corners                      7                          4

fouls                  13 (2 o/s)                  5 (2 o/s)



poss 1                     44                             56

poss 2                     52                             48



cards                  2 yellows





Bovril status: Bovril back in town but this time in cube form. Head Bovrista Kevin is experimenting with dosages and stirring techniques to extract the perfect dose of beefy magic.

[hendo]

Yet another brilliant report from Graham! As you can't make Saturday, I know I speak for all Gs when I thank you for all your fantastic work this season. We're lucky to have you and Andrew.
It feels appropriate to append the 'Twenty Yard Screamer' from the Tooting match as it is about the selfless fans who make our club possible.

G Army

Godalming has a fantastic band of loyal supporters who travel to watch the lads home or away, even when the venue lies off the edge of the map where ‘there be beasties’ and mobile phone signals and GPS fear to tread …Bedfont and Frimley come to mind.

The result of such intrepid exploration is that, frequently, we have equalled, or even outnumbered, the home support at the game.
This was no more obvious than when we played British Airways a couple of weeks ago on, what appeared to be, runway 2 at Heathrow.
The G Army numbered 24 out of a total attendance of 27.
We couldn’t understand why at least some of the home team hadn’t succeeded in persuading a reluctant relative or two to make the effort, so can only assume that the players were all stowaways discovered shivering in the undercarriage bays of arriving BA flights, and this is the way that they are paying off the cost of the fares.


Understandably our home attendances have dropped since the heady nose-bleed days of the higher pyramid steps but we still have far more turning up at Weycourt than any other club in our division and way more than most in the CCL Premier.



Manchester United has the largest fan base in the world, estimated at 650 million. Barcelona has 450 million, Real Madrid 350 million and Chelsea 145 million.

Okay, so they may have the numbers, but I ask you; do they have the calibre of fan that Godalming are lucky enough to claim? Do they have someone who will only wear shorts and T shirts even as we enter a new Ice Age? Do they have selfless individuals willing to sample burgers from certain away ground kitchens that set new lows in the standards of hygiene? Do they have fans who can actually spell ‘hygiene’?
Do they have a band of zealous Bovril missionaries intent on spreading the seductively salty word to the uninitiated heathen hordes, their only defence against hostile native reprisals being a small pepper grinder?
I think not.

The players should be proud to have such support and let’s hope we’re building a team where the reverse is also true.

[jeffb]

Seconded, John. Match reports are much appreciated, Graham. As I don't live locally anymore and only get to see the occasional Gs' game, I always look forward to your reports. Keep them coming next season please !

[Shottermiller]

Yes, you don't seem to be wearing those rose tinted glasses much nowadays. Thanks from me Greygraham, much appreciated.