Amateur Football Alliance Senior Cup

Old Meadonians 4 Old Bromleians 1

Old Meadonians gave themselves plenty of leeway to berth safely in the third round of the A.F.A. Senior Cup, taking a good 75 % share of the ball and, even after donating back 10% of their possession to below power visitors, Old Bromleians, together with a gift consolation goal, were well tucked into their comfort zone at Riverside Lands on Saturday.

This was all fuelled by a sparkling display of attacking football from Meads three dashing musketeers, Matt Allen, Jake Gowers and Ryan Bright, aided by line leader, mature D’Artagnan, Craig Jones’ rapier like thrusts and this gave them three stunning first half goals all from crosses by Allen who received as his reward a second half penalty shot and the well deserved MoM award.

Meads’ first came after twenty minutes when an exchange of passes between Jordan Mace and Will Gerrish set Allen away to the right corner flag where he taunted a trio of Kentish men before delivering a dipping cross to the far post where Gowers’ cushioned volley nestled the ball in the net. Ten minutes on came Allen’s next assist, again from the right but this time delivered left footed, coming back from the crowded corner flag area. Now the beneficiary was Bright whose balletic chest high fifteen yard volley was more flamboyant and suitably flourishing. Five minutes later it was three as Jones beat the defence to a third Allen cross to deflect the ball in. A reminder that the visitors might not remain supine came with the ref about to signal the break when their striker took advantage of indecision in Meads’ defence to loop a dipper over Gary Robinson from twenty yards.

The half-time instructions to carry on as before seemed to go in ears and out as the visitors who hitherto had only been allowed to play in their own half were given three sights of goal in the next ten minutes which were fortunately fruitless. Normal service was resumed with the insertion of the penetrative pace of Ed Glover who, with fifteen minutes to go saved frayed fingernails further punishment by winning a penalty on the left for Allen to tuck into the corner of the net. There was still time left for Glover to escape down the left and rattle the near post from a narrow angle for what would have been a merited fifth and a further penalty shout to keep us on the edge of our seats.

Squad:- Robinson, O’Sullivan, Pointer, McCombe, Shea, Gerrish, Gowers, Mace, Allen, C. Jones, Bright, Glover, Mantel, Chapman.

November 21, 2013