Epsom and Ewell 0 - Godalming 3
What a joy to report a win for the Gees - at last! But this was not any win, it was a GTFC emphatic win. Hendo says so.
When I say emphatic, it was such an improvement on recent performances that the Gees supporters were stunned at what they saw and were seen with a look of amazement on their faces. The first twenty minutes or so saw the Gees, with some new faces again in the squad, totally dominate their hosts with some outstanding football, being quicker to the ball than the opposition, accurate passing, passes into space for colleagues to run onto and an overall energy in the forwards that has not been seen for a while.
For such an important game for both sides languishing at the foot of the League you might have expected a nervous start and a defensive approach. The Gees were having none of it.
They were set up with Jon Bennett at Number 9, Bobby Bennett wide up-front, newcomer Tom Biss as the other wide player and Robert Webbe playing a more attacking role and he was accompanied by Aaron Parfitt (another newcomer) in midfield. Jon Palmer selected himself to play in front of the back four and made himself known to the opposition from the start. Michael Buck, Steve Bettancourt, Alex Rodrigues and Joshua Pound made up the back four in front of the impressive Dimitrios Kyriatkis. On the bench was another newcomer Lee Boon alongside some more established players in Scott Elgar, Calum Roots, Tre Trowers and Eugene Bongo.
After just seven minutes where the visitors had their hosts under the cosh and in a spin Bobby Bennett latched on to a ball on the right flank and showed skill and pace to cut in and hit a shot past the home keeper to get the Gees in front. The Gees continued to dominate, getting forward down the flanks and moments later could have doubled the score when after some good passing Tom Biss found himself at close range where his powerful shot hit the feet of the home keeper so hard that the ball bounced forwards and hit Jon Bennett on the chest before dropping back into the hands of the grateful home keeper.
More chance came for the visitors but, despite their dominance, no further goals were forthcoming. So, at half time, although incredibly impressed by the first half performance, there was that nervous feeling that one goal is never enough and recollections of past games where there were simply not enough goals scored and a fading performance in the second half there was a feeling of trepidation as the second half started.
However, the Gees still kept control of the game. Jon Palmer eventually gave way to Scott Elgar having had a good game. Early on Jon Bennett got a shot in after the ball came to him rather quickly, but it was straight at the home keeper.
Eugene Bongo and Lee Boon also came on later in the half.
Bobby Bennett was still looking dangerous down the wings and he put in a run down the left and squared it in to the box where it was played out to Robert Webbe, who hit a good low shot to double the Gees lead.
Only minutes later another good through ball was delivered and Jon Bennett controlled it and unselfishly played it to his left as the home keeper came out to give Tom Biss an easy tap in. There was a little more than a hint of offside, but some of the other decisions we had against us were strange, so we will take it.
Jon Bennett was brought down in the penalty, area not once, but twice in the same incident and the ref refused to give anything.
Great relief at last to pick up three points and keep a clean sheet. Well done to all the lads and to Gav and Jon for breaking the run of defeats.
One swallow doesn’t make a summer. I am sure that Gav and Jon will have spoken with the lads after this game to remind them that there is an awful lot of work to be done to get the Gees out of the lowly position in which they find themselves in the League. If we can keep a hold of some of these players, we are certainly heading in the right direction.
COYG’s
