Summary
This wasn’t the best of starts to the new season, losing 3 nil at home even though two of the goals were unstoppable. Our preparations weren’t helped by 2 withdrawals from the team before the start leaving us with only 1 sub for our first game. With so many players being on holiday and missing most of the pre-season training, it was always going to be a struggle for the players who did turn out. Fitness and match practice was a big factor. Having said that, we did put in a decent performance and the scoreline may be a little harsh on us. Coxheath’s 2 first-half goals were spectacular long range efforts that nobody could have done anything about. We created lots of chances during the entire match and deserved at least a goal for our efforts. How we did not get the ball in the back of the Coxheath net is still a mystery. However, the third goal was conceded carelessly just after half-time and killed the game, and any thoughts we had of getting back into it. At least we kept going till the end despite tiredness creeping in, and I was pleased with everyone’s overall effort.

Match Highlights
6 mins – GOAL Coxheath. A long range effort that looped over goalkeeper, Brad Lonergan
12 mins – a 20 yard half-volley from Niall Yarnold that sailed over the bar
15 mins – Connaire Rees shoots from 25 yards and their keeper tips it over the bar
16 mins – Niall is played in by Dan D’Rosario but misses the target
18 mins – Jack Hughes fizzes a shot across the face of the goal. Dan cannot reach it to turn it into the net
19 mins – Jack Hine has a shot that is saved comfortably
22 mins – Scott Brown scuffs a shot. Niall’s follow-up is saved by the keeper
32 mins – Dan sends in a freekick and Connaire misses from close-range
33 mins – Dan weaves his way past a couple of players inside the box but his effort is diverted against the crossbar
35 – Brad forced into his first real save of the match, diving low to his right
38 mins – GOAL Coxheath. Another long range effort, this time a screamer from about 25 yards
50 mins – GOAL Coxheath. Both Connaire and Harley Hines allow a tame ball to slip under their feet. The defence are rooted to the spot as Coxheath work their way into a 1-on-1 inside the box and slot the ball past Brad
51 mins – Another mistake in defence forces Brad to make another fine save
55 mins – Niall’s freekick sails high over the bar
56 mins – Jack Hughes takes a turn and his freekick is much closer, just going over the crossbar
60 mins – Substitution. Andrew Skivington replaces Scott Brown. Dan moves up alongside Niall and Matt George moves into left-midfield with Andy taking up the left-back position
66 mins – Matt George drags a shot way wide of the left-hand post
71 mins – Dan hassles the Coxheath defence and forces them into a mistake, but his effort is somehow saved miraculously by the keeper
79 mins – Jack Hine’s header from a corner is saved

Man of the Match: Harley Hines
Harley was making his league debut for us and had a shaky start for the first five minutes. However, he made a good recovery and did settle into the game after that. Harley made some important interceptions and got his head and body in the way of several attacks. All in all, it was a good first-time performance.