Southgate County 2nds get first win of the season

London Hospital Old Boys 0 – 1 Southgate County II
The Second Eleven's first away fixture and second of the league season saw the return of their Skipper Andy 'Boris' Grayson as well as Chris Symons who had returned from coaching kids in the USA. The game also saw new boys Rob Palmer and Peri Arif come into the side.

After the previous weeks disappointing 2-1 defeat, County were looking to get their first 3 points of the season. To the teams surprise, Boris decided to start himself on the bench, handing the captain's armband to Normie and keep the 4-5-1 formation we had used the previous week.

County started the game poorly with LHOB getting an early corner due to slopping defending by the team as a whole. This poor start was not to last as the impressive Matrix held the ball up and allowed the midfield to pass their way into the game. Soon County had their own corner which was knocked away, however they kept coming with confidence growing it was only a matter of time before they scored.

Thankfully this did happen after about 20 minutes as Carl Frame and Darren Ring played a number of one-two down the County left wing, with a great cross sent in, which the keeper spilled allowing the incoming Olli Thomas to get his first of the season and put County 1-0.
County did not stop with a 1-0 lead, with new boy Palmer keeping the back line protected and Normie and Liam Frame marshalling the defence, the wingers and centre mids of Thomas and Thirgood bombed on to support Matrix as much as possible. This was to the anger to the skip as Thirgood's lack of fitness meant he took an age to get back. This said however, Thirgood did break into the box after more good work by Matrix, however he should have shot on site rather than take an extra touch allowing the LHOB centre back to put him off for a goal kit. The only noise being hear part from coarse language from Thirgood was the Skippers shouts about a banjo and a cows backside.

County sadly did not add to the score before half time and Boris let them know that the next goal would decide the game. We came out and again causing LHOB all sorts of problems down the wing with Arif and Ring supporting Matrix who should have had a free kick on the edge of the box. In the second half Olli Thomas seemed to be everywhere and fed Matrix who saw his brilliant shot palmed away. Again County came and again LHOB held out. Screams for a penalty as Thirgood got into the box, was fouled but stayed on his feet (rather than follow Suarez and Wellbeck's lead and crash to the ground), but the ref play on. Ring protested and was threatened with a card and promptly went quiet.
With 15 minutes left and County feel shattered, Boris kept on the side lines and LHOB sensed an underserved equaliser as they too k the game back at County. First a stinging shot hit off Palmer in our box from a corner, which Symons had to drive and save. Then a run of 5 corners in a row saw the ball cleared off the line by Palmer and a offside called again LHOB which saw County on the ropes. Finally with all but a minute left Symons again had to make a crucial diving save to protect this sides first clean sheet in 2 years!

Overall we deserved the win. Great work by Carl Frame and Darren ring which led to the goal. Special mention goes to Olli Thomas as well as he was quality throughout the game, however MoM goes to lean mean ball keeping machine Matrix, who was a revelations up front and deserved a goal for all his hard work.

Team: Chris Symons, Ross Brown, Carl Frame, Liam Frame, Aaron 'Normie' Shah, James Thirgood, Rob Palmer, Olli Thomas, Darren Ring, Peri Arif, Dave 'Matrix' Anderson'
Sub: Andy 'Boris' Grayson (not used)