HT: 1-1
West Riding County FA Veterans League: Bradford League Division Two:
Summer Season 2023,
31st July 2023
Venue: St Mary's School, Menston, Ilkley
GOALS:
Chee (3)
ASSISTS:
Adam Dennis
Goach
Bramhope MFC Vets Team Line Up:
GK: Nicolson (c)
LB: Dougie
CB: Arron Baxter
CB: Jonno
RB: Joey
LW: Joyce (me)
CM: Goach (vc)
CM: Heath
RW: Adam Dennis
FW: Spanner
CFW: Chee
Roll On Subs:
LB: Kershaw
CM: Pugh
Despite missing several key players again due to injury or absence, including both striker Dorey, Hugh and goalkeeper Alex from last weeks victory, Bramhope saw skipper Nicolson back in goal and the return of Adam Dennis after missing the last game.
Bramhope's theme this season has been a slow start and the theme continued as Baildon started the game in control and if it wasn't for several early vital tackles on both flanks by full backs Dougie and Joey, Baildon would have had early shots on goal.
Baildon had all the early momentum and eventually their possession began to tell, with several blistering attacks through the middle but Bramhope centre backs Jonno and Arron Baxter (making his second appearance for the vets) snuffed out these attacks to protect goalkeeper Nicolson from any meaningful shots.
However, eventually, mid way through the half, the Baildon pressure told and Baildon took the lead. This seemed to wake Bramhope up who had some brilliant counter attacking play from Adam Dennis and Heath linking up on the right side, Heath making his return to action.
Vice captain Goach was becoming the organiser in the middle of the park alongside both Heath and Pugh who all had spells in centre midfield during the first half and Bramhope started getting a foothold into the game and were putting some brilliant attacking through passes to forward Chee and shifting the ball out wide to Joyce for some counter attacks and Bramhope soon earned a corner and some much needed pressure.
Despite gaining a foothold in the game, Bramhope were not getting the chances and Baildon were still dangerous in attack. Kershaw, now playing at left back after coming on from the bench produced several defence splitting tackles to keep out Baildon danger down the left.
Bramhope's perseverance then paid off, when Chee beat the offside trap after a lovely ball through from Adam Dennis after linking up with Pugh, which seemed to momentarily confuse the Baildon defence, who believed the ref would blow for off-side. Chee then curled the ball in from just outside the box past the 'keepers left hand side.
Bramhope went in 1-1 at the break, just like last week and the momentum had now swung.
Just like last week, Bramhope came out in the second half a different team and made some tactical adjustments at half time after a pep talk from Nicolson and Goach.
We saw Joyce play less narrow on the wing and hog the wide left line to help stretch Baildon's midfield and defence and create more space from midfield. We saw instant impacts on both flanks with Kershaw shifting the ball out wide from full back and creating space for Goach and Pugh in the middle with gaps beginning to appear in Baildon's midfield.
Early in the second half saw crosses from the right side by Adam Dennis and full back Joey with Spanner and Chee being unlucky not to get on the end of them.
Joyce produced a blistering run down the left flank after a great ball by Goach and crossed the ball in for Heath to almost connect with a header. Moments later, Pugh slotted Spanner in for a chance but Baildon sniffed out the danger for a corner.
Defensively Bramhope were solid and well structured and Baildon were not getting a sniff after solid work by Jonno and Baxter in the middle.
Bramhope's fast but clever attacks began to tell and Goach put a brilliant ball through for striker Chee to not only claim his second assist in two weeks but saw Chee bag a brace of goals with a neat finish and bring out his famous Siu Cristiano Ronaldo celebration. This time, the opposition didn't take offense to his celebration unlike Thackley last week.
Bramhope then had to soak up some pressure which saw vital tackles by Dougie, Kershaw and an interception by Joyce. Jonno also made a vital clearance.
However, it was stand-in goalkeeper and captain Jonny Nicolson who was a hero of the moment, just as Baildon were almost certain to equalise after a blistering attack saw their striker through on goal, Nicolson came out with a presence and produced a 'Nigel Martyn esq' save to hold the lead vitally for Bramhope.
Moments later Bramhope had several counter attacks to try and seal the victory. Joyce had a pacey run down the left but his low cross was too far in front for Goach to latch onto in the box after a box to box run from Goach and the Baildon 'keeper pounced. Pugh also spun a nice through ball to Spanner but Baildon were quickly crowding him out after Spanner was causing all sorts of problems all second half with his movement.
Then the hat-trick hero Chee had his moment of glory after a goalkeeing error by Baildon saw the ball fall to Chee who calmly eyed up a lob and put it over the goalkeeper to cap off a superb display up front.
Bramhope were now 3-1 up and with only 5 minutes to go had opportunities to slow the play down but that's not been Bramhope's style in recent weeks. Joyce dribbled down the left to win a corner and played a one-two with Goach but instead of holding the ball up tried to play it into the box, thankfully Bramhope regained possession and moments later Goach and Pugh linked up down the right. Despite being up by two, Bramhope really wanted to score a 4th but 3 was all that was needed.
There is now a couple of weeks break in the league before taking on Addingham Vets.
3 Team 5 a side tournament
Saturday 5th August
The tournament is called the Galacticos Cup and Richard (Joyce) tries to organise friendly small-sided tournaments atleast once a year.
The Bramhope FC Vets team for the tournament is listed below:
GK: Alex
DF: Nicolson (vc)
MF: Adam Dennis
MF: Goach
ST: Joyce (c)
(Stand By - Danny T - who will be playing for RJ Sports Select Vets in the tournament currently)
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