Post by greygraham on Sept 10, 2020 5:56:02 GMT
Godalming 1 (1) – 2 (0) Farnham
This was a tremendous performance from the Gs team, who for me must feel gutted not to come away with at least a point. But we know in football that the only thing that counts is balls in the net.
It was an evening when there were lots of ex Gs in the visitor’s squad. Darren Wheeler, Ashley Lloyd, Connor Gales, Ben Beauchop and of course Richard Ossai. Nick Sowden was also at the ground. Farnham were among the top handful of teams last season before it all came to a halt. All that drew another crowd of around 100 spectators on a Tuesday night.
In goal for the Gs was Relu Oprea, Sam Taylor was back in partnership with Ben May as the centre backs, so Raisan Francis returned to his normal left back position, with Sam Wade at right back, Rory Sellick, Sam Boultwood and Connor Blanchard in the midfield, with James Robertson in the No 9 shirt and Josh Ogunseye and Lekan Osideko the wide players.
Dom Hardisty was on the bench along with Dexter Skip, Nathan Morris, Kai Francis and Ollie Ballam.
This new Gs side started really well and seemed well drilled and quicker about the pitch. Josh showed how dangerous he is early on when Richard Ossai had to be on his toes to back pedal to catch an attempted lob over his head.
The Gs managed to make some impressive passes in the build up and cut through the visitor’s defence without getting in a proper shot. Then Josh once again did a wonderful job of pinching the ball back just in the Gs half, he delivered some great passes between his Gs teammates as he worked his way forward, but with the goal beckoning however, the final pass went astray.
Josh finally got his just reward when it appeared that the Farnham defenders had everything covered on a long ball forward that appeared to be heading for the visiting keeper, but Josh found that magical acceleration over a few yards getting on to the ball and this time successfully chipping it over Richard Ossai to open the scoring. Nothing less than he deserved.
Farnham were now aware of the danger from the Gs pacemen and Josh was brought down by the Farnham number 5 as Josh went past him and received a yellow card for his trouble.
So, it was 1-0 to the Gs at the halfway point and justifiably so.
Connor Gale comes on for Farnham to bolster their defence.
Soon after Ashley Lloyd went into the ref’s note book after Josh went on his way through the visitor’s defence. From the resultant free kick, the ball rebounded out towards the halfway line where Sam Boultwood was first to it and hit an unstoppable low drive, but unfortunately it went just past the post.
Two more yellow cards to Farnham, including their skipper, after Lekan and Josh get some more rough treatment.
Farnham’s second substitute comes on.
Again, Lekan gets taken down as he goes through the Farnham defence. This time from the free kick Sam Taylor delivers the ball into the area and this resulted in a bit of a mix up in the Farnham 6yard box, before Lekan put the ball in the net seemingly to put the Gs 2-0 up, only to be flagged as offside. The ball had come back off the visiting keeper so it could not have been an offside against Lekan. But maybe there was a G’s player in an offside position when the free kick was taken. This appeared to be a turning point in the game.
To add to the disappointment Farnham managed to go on the attack straight away down their right and as the cross came into the box it seemed to go across the Gs goal and a Farnham player appeared near the far post to head in and draw the score level at 1-1.
Gs then introduced there first substitute in the shape of Dexter Skip for Connor Blanchard who had done a great deal of leg work.
About seven minutes after Farnham drew level they went ahead after applying more pressure to the Gs. They went down their right side again and delivered a shot which the Gs keeper seemed to me to catch on his chest, but the ball actually bounced out again and dropped favourably for the Farnham player to hit the target.
Raisan Francis who had had a fantastic game, both in defence and making attacking runs down the wing, was subbed off being replaced by Nathan Morris’ fresh legs.
Captain Rory Sellick went on a typical charge through the visitor’s defence but unfortunately could not get hold of the ball properly when it came to the final shot. I think he was exhausted.
The Gs had now to do the attacking and both Josh and Lekan kept up their threat with some great passing moves and pace. Kai Francis came on up front to partner James Robertson.
Nathan then managed to get a great cross in from wide on the left, which Kai got his head to, sending the ball towards the top corner. But Richard Ossai shows what a good keeper he is by managing to get a hand to the ball, at full stretch, to put it round.
Yet another yellow card to Farnham’s Connor Gale this time as the G’s kept pressing for the equaliser that they deserved.
It did not come. But the crowd rightly applauded Phil’s new team as they left the pitch knowing that they had seen another fine performance from the home squad. The first two games of this campaign being against two of the teams that will expect to be near the top of the league at the end of the season.
It is an old adage that, however well you play, in the end it is only goals that count. If you cannot take the chances that you create you may well be punished.
There is great ability and a fine team spirit in this G’s squad and I have to say to me it feels so much better than in past seasons.
COYG’s
This was a tremendous performance from the Gs team, who for me must feel gutted not to come away with at least a point. But we know in football that the only thing that counts is balls in the net.
It was an evening when there were lots of ex Gs in the visitor’s squad. Darren Wheeler, Ashley Lloyd, Connor Gales, Ben Beauchop and of course Richard Ossai. Nick Sowden was also at the ground. Farnham were among the top handful of teams last season before it all came to a halt. All that drew another crowd of around 100 spectators on a Tuesday night.
In goal for the Gs was Relu Oprea, Sam Taylor was back in partnership with Ben May as the centre backs, so Raisan Francis returned to his normal left back position, with Sam Wade at right back, Rory Sellick, Sam Boultwood and Connor Blanchard in the midfield, with James Robertson in the No 9 shirt and Josh Ogunseye and Lekan Osideko the wide players.
Dom Hardisty was on the bench along with Dexter Skip, Nathan Morris, Kai Francis and Ollie Ballam.
This new Gs side started really well and seemed well drilled and quicker about the pitch. Josh showed how dangerous he is early on when Richard Ossai had to be on his toes to back pedal to catch an attempted lob over his head.
The Gs managed to make some impressive passes in the build up and cut through the visitor’s defence without getting in a proper shot. Then Josh once again did a wonderful job of pinching the ball back just in the Gs half, he delivered some great passes between his Gs teammates as he worked his way forward, but with the goal beckoning however, the final pass went astray.
Josh finally got his just reward when it appeared that the Farnham defenders had everything covered on a long ball forward that appeared to be heading for the visiting keeper, but Josh found that magical acceleration over a few yards getting on to the ball and this time successfully chipping it over Richard Ossai to open the scoring. Nothing less than he deserved.
Farnham were now aware of the danger from the Gs pacemen and Josh was brought down by the Farnham number 5 as Josh went past him and received a yellow card for his trouble.
So, it was 1-0 to the Gs at the halfway point and justifiably so.
Connor Gale comes on for Farnham to bolster their defence.
Soon after Ashley Lloyd went into the ref’s note book after Josh went on his way through the visitor’s defence. From the resultant free kick, the ball rebounded out towards the halfway line where Sam Boultwood was first to it and hit an unstoppable low drive, but unfortunately it went just past the post.
Two more yellow cards to Farnham, including their skipper, after Lekan and Josh get some more rough treatment.
Farnham’s second substitute comes on.
Again, Lekan gets taken down as he goes through the Farnham defence. This time from the free kick Sam Taylor delivers the ball into the area and this resulted in a bit of a mix up in the Farnham 6yard box, before Lekan put the ball in the net seemingly to put the Gs 2-0 up, only to be flagged as offside. The ball had come back off the visiting keeper so it could not have been an offside against Lekan. But maybe there was a G’s player in an offside position when the free kick was taken. This appeared to be a turning point in the game.
To add to the disappointment Farnham managed to go on the attack straight away down their right and as the cross came into the box it seemed to go across the Gs goal and a Farnham player appeared near the far post to head in and draw the score level at 1-1.
Gs then introduced there first substitute in the shape of Dexter Skip for Connor Blanchard who had done a great deal of leg work.
About seven minutes after Farnham drew level they went ahead after applying more pressure to the Gs. They went down their right side again and delivered a shot which the Gs keeper seemed to me to catch on his chest, but the ball actually bounced out again and dropped favourably for the Farnham player to hit the target.
Raisan Francis who had had a fantastic game, both in defence and making attacking runs down the wing, was subbed off being replaced by Nathan Morris’ fresh legs.
Captain Rory Sellick went on a typical charge through the visitor’s defence but unfortunately could not get hold of the ball properly when it came to the final shot. I think he was exhausted.
The Gs had now to do the attacking and both Josh and Lekan kept up their threat with some great passing moves and pace. Kai Francis came on up front to partner James Robertson.
Nathan then managed to get a great cross in from wide on the left, which Kai got his head to, sending the ball towards the top corner. But Richard Ossai shows what a good keeper he is by managing to get a hand to the ball, at full stretch, to put it round.
Yet another yellow card to Farnham’s Connor Gale this time as the G’s kept pressing for the equaliser that they deserved.
It did not come. But the crowd rightly applauded Phil’s new team as they left the pitch knowing that they had seen another fine performance from the home squad. The first two games of this campaign being against two of the teams that will expect to be near the top of the league at the end of the season.
It is an old adage that, however well you play, in the end it is only goals that count. If you cannot take the chances that you create you may well be punished.
There is great ability and a fine team spirit in this G’s squad and I have to say to me it feels so much better than in past seasons.
COYG’s