(Kloess 52& 65, Wilson 4, (Dobson 15)
Rivett 26, Bird 27, Coote 40)
21st November 2010
Report by Matt Coombes
Southgate Men’s 1’s were looking to continue their steady improvement since the league commenced with a tough contest against a formidable Bromley and Beckenham side. The 2 teams had come off convincing wins the week before and this had been a highly anticipated fixture.
With the Southgate balcony full of supporters the game commenced at a frantic pace ensuring everyone would stay warm with excitement. Southgate were able to control the game initially with good connections being made between their defence and midfield, creating further opportunities nearer the Brom and Beck circle. The first Southgate goal came in the 4th minute. A well worked deflection brought about by some quick thinking from Southgate defender Matt Grinham and the ever present Adam Wilson gave the balcony something to cheer about early on.
Southgate continued to make strong connections through the field but weren’t able to penetrate the Brom and Beck defence, when a quick turnover resulted in a counter attacking opportunity for the visitors and again a pass from outside the circle was clinically deflected away by a diving Peter Dobson. At 1-1 the game looked set for an epic battle. It swung however Southgate’s way with two goals in just as many minutes when first, after clever interplay between the midfield, Thaddeus Rivett aggressively broke into the circle from the left hand side and punished the ball through the legs of the unsuspecting Brom and Beck goalkeeper. A minute later, Southgate applying full pressure on the visitors, were able to force the ball into the circle and Simeon Bird calmly passed the ball into the goal to give Southgate a 3-1 lead.
After an inspiring half time talk from coach and internationally acclaimed goalkeeper Chris Hibbert, the Southgate men were encouraged to press on an maintain their hold on the game. This was helped when after only 5 minutes into the second half their attacking efforts were rewarded with penalty flick which Josh Coote ever masterfully caressed into the opposite corner of a diving Brom and Beck goalkeeper.
Bromley and Beckenham to their credit were determined to try and stay in the game and surged forward at various times in the second half but to no avail. Star striker Johannes Kloess was rewarded for his hard work up front and was able to sneak a shot off in the circle for his first, adding a second 5 minutes from the end with a well placed drag flick.
