Top of the Table Dons

Hambledon Reserves were looking for a fifth win in a row and welcomed Bedfont Reserves to the fortress of Badger Park. After a week of heavy rain a lot of games were called off but the Hambledon pitch was considered to be playable and the game was to go ahead. This would give the dons a chance to top the table for the first time this season.

Starting 11:

Goalkeeper – Gareth Simpson
Defensive Right – Tony Stoye
Defensive Left – Myles Golden-Oliver
Centre Back – Andy Parkin
Centre Back – George Barrett
Midfield Right – Dominik Piatek
Midfield Left – Charlie Court
Defensive Midfield Centre – Matt Phillips
Midfield Centre – Luke Winter ©
Midfield Centre – Rob Kingshott
Striker – Kuda Kamoto

Subs:
Lukasz Kloska
Connor Piatek
Ollie Cummings
Joel Alderton

As the game kicked off Bedfont started the better team, the pace of the young attackers was causing Hambledon a few issues. The dons didn’t help matters by giving literally every ball away to the opposition. Also the pitch was difficult to run off on and the wind bamboozled any judgement on heading. However the dons did well in the conditions to keep the spritely Bedfont out and from nowhere it was Hambledon that took the lead. A lovely ball found Captain Luke winter running through; he curled the ball past the keeper for 1-0, lovely goal, lovely move, 1-0.

The goal gave Bedfont added inspiration and it didn’t take long for them to equalise, Hambledon were caught by a free kick, Gareth Simpson did well in goal to save a first header but the visitor’s number 10 was waiting to head back over the line.
The pace of Bedfont was still rife and they were still able to break easily due to Hambledons sloppiness. In particular number 6 was leaving everyone for dust, and number 8 was feeding the attack well.

The next goal from Bedfont was majestic, the ball arrived on the right hand side just outside the box, the Hambledon defence closed, but the Bedfont attacker pinged a 25 yard screamer over Gareth Simpson (Gareth where were you!?) off the post and into the back of Hambledons net. Sublime strike to take the lead and nothing anyone could do to stop it. This was the first time Hambledon had been behind in 5 games, so now was the real test.

Hambledon needed to up there game fast or would be out of this game, Bedfont scored again from a header through there towering centre back, although it was a blatant foul on Matt Phillips and the dons were making a substitution. So was disallowed on both fronts; however was an indication that the dons could find themselves 2 goals down fast.

It would take a spot of class for Hambledon to get back in this game and turn around what had so far been as a team pretty poor.

That class came in the form of Myles Golden-Oliver; the full back made a superb run up the left and linked beautifully with Dominik Piatek. He then rounded the keeper and finished on a tough angle to get the dons back in the game.

The dons started to show a flicker of the form they had been used to and Bedfont started to feel stretched. Luke Winter put the dons ahead from another lovely move to take the lead and take Hambledon infront to half time. 3-2

After a soul searching half time chat the dons came out looking a bit more confident, the pitch had lost its surface water and the wind had died off, so conditions were more favourable. Bedfont seemed to have lost the energy that had made them so threatening in the first half and adopted the lethargicness of the don’s first half. This allowed Hambledon to up there game and get further ahead. Sub Lukasz Kloska put the dons 4-2 ahead from a neat finish into the bottom corner and now the dons were on top.

Bedfont did show flickers of there first half form. Again number 6’s pace was cutting Hambledons defence and Bedfont pulled a goal back from a nice move.

Hambledon also had some lovely wing play through Charlie Court who was stretching Bedfont constantly. The dons went 2 goals ahead again from a lovely precision head from Dominik Piatek, which came all the way back from keeper Gareth Simpson! 5-3

Bedfont backline were looking tired after giving all in the first half and Kuda Kamoto was causing them a lot more anguish. He nicked Hambledons 6th after taking the keeper on nicely. Bedfont were out of sight now and the game finished 6-3.

In the end a good performance from Hambledon, Bedfont didn’t have the surge they had in the first half and weren’t as effective. If they had mimicked the first half the scoreline would have been closer.

We need to start better and get the ball moving quicker, were far too many sloppy mistakes in the first half, we took a long time to get going but when we did we got the job done.

Well played Charlie Court, was instrumental in lifting the dons in the 2nd half and caused Bedfont all sorts of problems on the flank. Let’s stay top of the table and keep this winning streak going!

Cheers