Lazy Saturday Afternoon

Saturday 20th March 2010
Laird 21
Edgerley 36 






We came away from Brentwood whistling the theme from 'The Great Escape', because, quite frankly, that is exactly what this match can be considered as.
Getting to the ground early enabled us to sit in the club house, which was one of the nicer ones, and situated behind the main stand.
As it was absolutely piddling down, we stood in the covered stand behind the goal, anticipating a real test, and it was to prove so.
Brentwood came flying out of the traps, and could easily have been 2 up within the first 5 minutes, first being denied by the keeper, and then by the post. They seemed to be finding tons of space down the flanks, and we were under the cosh.
Then in the 21st minute, and totally against the run of play, we went ahead through David Laird, who simply tapped the ball in from a low Edgerly cross. He could have doubled the lead straight after, but his shot was well saved by the keeper.
In the 36th minute we went 2 up. Mitch Hahn, who had signed from Bishops Stortford the day before, went on a mazy run down the right, and hit a good shot which was parried into the path of Edgerley, who had the simple task of knocking it in.
Just before the break, Brentwood had a goal disallowed for offside, and we got the feeling that lady luck was on our side.
The second half started quite slowly, with Brentwood pressing, and us sitting back a little.
The rain had stopped, so we moved behind the other goal. I should imagine the Brentwood keeper was glad of the company, as he had next to nothing to do in the second half.
It was one way traffic, and we knew it was only a matter of time before a goal was pulled back. It took until the 70th minute, but it came. As they'd done all game, the ball was played down the wing and the resulting cross was bundled in, for what looked like an own goal.
The remaining 20 minutes seemed to take forever, as Brentwood came piling forward for the equaliser.
They hit the crossbar, the post, and just about every one of our players on the line. Gavin King was immense in goal, and was working non stop, whereas the Brentwood keeper could have pulled up a chair.
In the dying seconds Brentwood scored again, from what looked like a good header, only to have it ruled out for a push. We were lucky once again, and it was a couple of minutes before any of us supporters, or players, knew it had been disallowed.
So, at the final whistle it was a 2-1 win, which could so easily have gone the other way. Brentwood were an excellent side, and it was easy to see how they'd racked up some impressive results recently.
It was also easy to see how we've maintained such a good run of form. The teamwork, and defending today was superb, and any lesser side would have been walloped.



The Ground
£8.50 for me, £1 for the little 'un.
Programme was included in the admission cost, and is fantastic. Glossy, full coloured and with few adverts. They should all be like this.