Bessacarr FC Open Age Team v Chairman’s XI

3-3

Match Report

For weeks the verbals had been flying between the open age team and the chairman’s XI, both trying to get the upper hand before the hotly anticipated game. The main banter focussing on the use of shin pads and the sharpening of studs. Both sets of players needed reminding on a number of occasions that this was going to be the grand finale of the Bessacarr FC 30th anniversary summer tournament, with all monies raised going to the NSPCC, not the FA Cup Final.

After two long hectic days it was time for the banter to stop and the players to do their talking on the pitch. About an hour before the game open age team manager Jonny Jones was told that we would no longer be playing on a men’s pitch, instead, the chairman’s team felt that a junior pitch would suit their style of play much better. So, in front of a packed Cantley Park crowd newly appointed club chairman Alan McGilveray led his team out, to face the confident, almost cocky, open age team.

The game kicked off and started relatively even, with the open age team perhaps having the better of the opening 5 minutes. This soon changed though as the chairman’s XI began to fly into tackles in an attempt to unsettle the younger team, Matt Wood finding himself extremely lucky not to pick up a booking after a number of reckless challenges. The new Bessacarr FC girls team manager Lynn Greenough wasn’t as lucky though, receiving a red card for a vicious tackle on Bessacrr FC girls team coach Tom White. Many neutrals feel this was the turning point of the first half, Lynn accepted her red card and left the pitch, however the chairman’s XI brought on another player, Lynn then got bored on the sideline and came back on, instead of playing with 10 the chairman’s XI were playing with 12. Despite this, the industrious pressing style of the chairman’s XI began to pay off as they had three excellent chances which striker Nick Hempsall failed to capitalise on, something which surprised many on the pitch as he had talked up his goalscoring ability all weekend. These chances, one of which hit the woodwork, gave the chairman’s XI hope as they began to pass the ball and were rewarded with their first goal shortly after with a delightful lob from outgoing under 17s manager Dave Woolsey, which the open age team goalkeeper Jim Douglas will be disappointed with. The open age team became flustered and failed to get hold of the ball, this resulted in the chairman’s XI getting their second goal with a well placed far post header from central midfielder and next seasons Under 9’s manager Hywel Jenkins.

At this stage, the open age team were beginning to wonder what they had signed themselves up for, especially as 80% of the team had reluctantly pulled themselves out of bed for the 4.30pm kick off. Feeling as though they were being hustled the open age team were saved by the half time whistle, giving them chance to make a few tactical changes and for the chairman’s XI to catch their breath.

The second half kicked off and the open age team began to get hold of the ball and they were rewarded for their hard work when Tom White lobbed the ball over the chairman, and goalkeeper for the day, Alan McGilveray to put them back in the game. The pressure continued and the game was eventually levelled as Adam Hewitt scored a tap in at the back post. A huge sigh of relief came from open age team manager Jonny Jones as calls for him to get the sack echoed around Cantley Park. With the match levelled both teams had a number of chances, the chairman’s XI were causing a lot of problems from set pieces and still going in hard with the tackles, notably BFC treasurer Duncan Goodwin who wouldn’t have looked out of place in the Leeds sides of the 1970’s.

After about 15 minutes of battling, the open age team finally managed to take the lead with yet another lob, this time from striker James Sharp. Just when the open age team thought they had the game in the bag the referee makes a controversial decision and awards the chairman’s XI a penalty for a dubious handball. Up stepped McGilveray, he placed the ball on the spot and prepared to make himself a hero. He began his run up and smashed the ball straight down the middle of the goal but the keeper stood still and parried the ball away. The referee’s whistled sounded loud, another twist in the tale, he ordered for the penalty to be retaken for encroachment into the penalty area. The open age team were disgusted to say the least, BFC’s commitment to the FA’s respect campaign was temporarily put on hold. The chairman had a second chance, the expectations of the club resting on his shoulders, this time he made no mistake, slotting the ball into the bottom left corner.

Soon after this, the referee blew his whistle to call time on the game and the 30th anniversary celebrations. All agreed that the result was a fair one and that bragging rights for the time being, would be shared.