Charlton Community Beaten By Bridon
South East London, Charlton, Meridian Park to be exact has seen many a football match. On a moody Saturday afternoon where the weather was symptomatic of our year so far – predictably unpredictable; what was to be expected today? Well, in terms of the weather there could be no guarantees whatsoever but as the football match dawned closer, if one aspect of today’s weather were to be infused in the tension of the game it was the black clouds that lingered over both teams’ title aspirations. This was to be no ordinary game.
As the bumpy grass of a typical amateur football pitch looks up in the direction of the sky, 22 men with victory on their mind trampled across the open arena with a sole objective – to win. “I hope it rains” was the wish of Karlton Lynch and the Bridon Ropes team who were ready for the war. They were praying for carnage and destruction on the battlefield that they simply called “Meridian” or “home”.
Enter Bridon Ropes who are 2nd in the Kent County League, Division One West on 38 points, played a game less than the top team and on their own “patch”. Sounds strong until you hear of the arsenal in the armoury of the awaiting opposition. Enter Charlton Athletic Community. They are the top scorers in the league with 61 goals in 20 league games, at the top of the league with 39 points and the top scorer in the league, Kelvin Williams, who boasts a ratio of a goal a game. With pride at stake and in an immeasurable form of importance; the incentive of a place at the top of the league, this game would no longer be called such a thing as the two teams step across the white chalk line.
The two teams take their positions and wait in anticipation of the referee who will be the trigger to begin the rat race. As the game starts the tension and anxiety erupts into a flurry of frenetic, fast-paced, fantasy football not for the feint hearted. As the ball bounces around the pitch at the speed of a pinball it’s hard to imagine the players continuing to buzz around the pitch at such a frantic speed. There just seems to be no letting up by either side as the predicted profusion of passion is present from both sets of players.
As the pattern of the game begins to take shape, Bridon Ropes begin to take charge of the situation. They start creating chances at an alarming rate and the catalogue of attempts at the goal of Charlton Athletic Community is comparable to a whirlwind which comes in waves at 100mph. There is a determined defiance about the final defender of the goal, Sennington. He protects the goal by gliding through the air and palming away a shot in miraculous fashion as he appeared to be beaten and also smothering the rebound shot. This was the pick of the bunch as Bridon Ropes laid siege to the goal of Charlton Community. Before this opportunity Bridon had four attempts at goal, all saved by what could prove to be a match winning performance by Sennington. As the door seemed to be opening for Bridon, Sennington was slamming it in their faces.
Could this persistent badgering of the goal lead to an opening? The tide didn’t seem to be coming down and Bridons waves continued to come until a corner fizzed into the 6 yard box by Dawson was met with the predatory instinct of Gyamfi who nodded the ball past Sennington in a cool fashion but this was to be met with a chorus of “Come on Bridon!”
The deadlock had finally been broken and Bridon could smell blood. Straight from the kick off Bridon pursued more goals. For all their creativity there was no final product from Bridon and the game remained tightly poised at 1 – 0. Charlton Community were lucky to still be in the game and they seemed to pour forward just before half time in search of an undeserved equaliser.
They hit back with a response at the right time albeit down to a goalkeeping error and they crept back into the game with the killer instinct suited to such an important game. They get a free kick and it’s hammered in at the goalkeeper from 25 yards by Wilcox. Cross saves it but the rebound drops straight in front of the goal and the fox in the box, Williams, pounces at the first time of asking and pulls the game back to 1 -1. Charlton Community celebrate in a relieved fashion as they equalize just before half time. Perfect timing.
Bridon are disappointed to concede that goal but they are almost irked by the cheek of the opposition in doing so. They know half time is drawing. They come out with all guns blazing again.
In search of the lead Bridon are met by Sennington who stops a shot from Doherty curling into his bottom left corner. The sustained pressure continues and Bridon breakthrough again. Gyamfi was again at the peak of his poaching powers. He diverted a shot from Farrar goal ward bound. 2 -1 just in the nick of half time which is the least Bridon deserve.
As half time whizzes by the game starts in the same robust fashion. It’s not long before the game flies past such is the excitement. 15 minutes left and it begins to get edgy. A Beckham-esque cross from Farrar is nodded back across Sennington by Doherty and it loops into the back of the net. Perfect header, 3 -1, the game surely should be over.
That isn’t the idea of Charlton Community who are like a boxer that stays in the bout till the end. They score again within a matter of minutes to set up what will be a nervy finale. Paterson beats Cross with a placed shot. 3 -2.
5 minutes are left for Charlton Athletic to score but the resolute defending of West leaves Williams and Co frustrated as they can’t seem to get the crucial goal. In a matter of time Bridon deliver the fatal knock out blow which totally kills of the game and Charlton Communitys attempt to claw back themselves back into the contest and maintain their top-of-the-table status deteriorates. Gyamfi completes his hat trick with yet another header after expert delivery from Boyer and this sends the team into raptures as they sense victory is on the horizon.
With the lack of time and the stone-faced determined defence of Bridon, at a minimum and a maximum respectively, it was a matter of time before the referee drew an end to a slug fest of football which puts Bridon Ropes top of the league. This was definitely a game for the cool heads.
Reported by Floyd Francis May 1st 2010
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