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Page 5 (of 6)
A dull 0-0 draw at home to Ashford, now deep in the mire financially and Director of Football Ian Wright strangely invisible (what on earth was that all about?) was followed by the shock of the season: Sitting 18th in the table we travelled to top of the table Cray Wanderers who had EIGHT straight league wins under their belt. We defended stoically, Adam Broomhead in particular outstanding and scored twice, the first a Gray free kick and the second a quite brilliant Asher header, meeting a pin-point Gray cross to send the Leafe faithful into raptures. Unbelievably this did not earn the Ryman League performance of the month, instead going to Corinthian Casuals for beating Kingstonian, whose form had been erratic of late. Er, EIGHT straight wins… 2-0 away from home….I mean, HELLO! Muppets. I shop at Staples now.
It's late March, we are firmly in the relegation scrap and here come Godalming Town, another surprise package, aggressive and powerful under goalkeeping legend Chuck Martini. A ding-dong game ensued; we got the square route of sod all from the three clowns in black all afternoon and lost 2-3. A bright spot was Nigel Ikolodo's first goal, a brave and brilliant one on one, but sadly he was to miss the whole of April due to a ban earned for Three Bridges Reserves - here at Church Road against our Reserves. Sums up the season really!
We then went to Burgess Hill, a scene of much Leafe misery in recent years and so it continued with an awful display with no fire power, ill discipline and a ghastly 2-0 defeat. Rob Smith was sent off for the third time this season, suitably rewarded with a five match ban to include the first three of next season. Spirits sunk further on Good Friday with a shocking 0-2 defeat to fellow strugglers Leatherhead. Scarlett was sent off for doing his job but stand-in keeper Broom saved the resultant penalty, the only bright spot of a dismal afternoon. Bizarrely their manager Bob Langford resigned immediately after the game saying he no longer enjoyed it. Blimey mate, you think you've got problems? I got home with that "why do I bother?" look that provoked my wife to ask "why do you bother?" They just don't get it do they...
Red alert, red alert we now faced the indignity of finishing second bottom which still carries a risk of relegation in a scenario complicated by a number of clubs being at risk of financial meltdown. We now faced a trip to Met Police's Imber Court, a ground where if it wasn't for bad luck we would have no luck at all…… Somehow we pulled a cracking display out of the bag with Mark Hammond outstanding on the right, Jason Goodchild and Smudger bossing midfield and Adam Broomhead alongside Asher solid at the back. Young keeper Gavin Dilley, preferred to Scartlett whose ban was looming. had an excellent game as well, commanding the box and making some telling late saves as we hung on for a 0-0 draw.
Our last away day was to Sittingbourne in glorious sunshine but chill wind. Our ill discipline of late meant Smudger, Scarlett, Ali, Taff, Broomhead, Jabbie, Ikolodo and Goodchild were all suspended giving some young and old blood some opportunity to shine. They didn't to be honest other than Denva who did fine at centre-half and recently returned Riccardo Williams who scored another stunning goal, a looping 25 yard volley on the turn in a 3-1 defeat. The good news though was Chipstead losing 4-2 at Godalming Town and condemned to the second relegation spot, although a reprieve looks increasingly likely as Burgess Hill sit on the brink. We would much rather keep our local derby.
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