A trip to league leaders AW London saw BGFC looking to end AW’s 100% record this season. With a pretty good record at the Warbank Sports Club ( complete with social club with open fire, tea/coffee in novelty mugs, pot noodles and a refreshing musky aroma ), Green donned the ever-so-smart grey kit and went out to do battle.

Green ( grey ) lined up; Fennings. Sexton, Slade, Law, Wood. Young, Brooker, De-Kisshazy, Knight. Rayfield, Hopper. Subs were NitschB, NitschS, CookD, Salter.

For the second week running there was no slope to defend, but that didn’t put off or deter Green who started very well and settled into a nice passing rhythm and took the game to AW. Midfielders Pete De-Kisshazy and Mike Brooker were working hard on closing down AW’s possession and forwards Aaron Hopper and Danny Rayfield were linking up well with them.

AW’s main threat came from free kicks and corners and despite a couple of close calls, keeper Rob Fennings’ first half was mainly collecting through balls. At the other end Green threatened on regular occasions and the play in doing so was positive and good to watch. The confidence from last week’s footballing display was clearly evident. Aaron Hopper in particular was giving the AW back line the run around and was so close to giving Green a deserved lead. An excellent combination build up saw Hopper twist and beat his marker and only the pressure of the trailing defender kept Hopper from a good connection as he tried to shoot. Nonetheless, it was an encouraging sign and Green fed off this good start.

The first half ended goalless but Green were the better team and all over the field they were winning the personal battles, none more so than at the back where the back four stood firm and looked assured and comfortable.

The half time emphasis was to carry on doing what they were doing in the first half. AW knew they were in a game that’s for sure.

AW came out in the second half with a point to prove and also a 100% record to maintain. Some really good football had been played by both sides and a battle of attrition ensued. The deadlock was finally broken after 5 minutes of the second half. The impressive Aaron Hopper was put through and as he and the keeper challenged inside the box, the ball bounced free, as Hopper got up to take a shot at the empty net he was bundled down by the AW defender and a certain penalty was awarded. Good reward for Hopper’s tenacity. Up stepped Dan Knight and with the pooper pulsating, slotted home a good penalty to give Green a 1-0 lead.

AW London definitely knew they were in a game now! And those on the BGFC touchline knew time would now stand still!

Green knew they would have to work very hard and dig deep to keep AW at bay for another 40 minutes. They were so close in making that task easier by grabbing a quick second. The passing game continued and the pressure they were now putting on AW deserved that second but it was always just a fraction away. AW needed to get back in the game quick, and they did start to get on top as Green got deeper and deeper and were now struggling to get up the pitch as a team. It was no surprise when AW did equalise a third of the way into the second half. A break down the right saw a low cross hit home to make it 1-1.
Green looked a bit deflated whereas AW looked to have found a spring in their step.

The next ten minutes were to be the difference in the two sides come the end of the game. Green couldn’t get on the ball for any length of time, and that affected the passing and confidence on the ball. A body blow was dealt when AW got a second to go 2-1 up with a great strike from the edge of the box that gave Fennings no chance. It was beginning to look like all Green’s hard work would come to nothing.

With heads down and the belief disintegrating, Green kept trying to maintain some pressure on AW and they were still giving a good account of themselves. The commitment was very evident knowing one goal would change it all again. The killer blow was then dealt when some sloppy play in and around Green’s penalty area allowed AW to poke home a third and with just ten minutes remaining, a 3-1 lead looked to have knocked the stuffing out of the Green.

Green did rally however, subs Ben and Sam Nitsch were combining well and a ‘do or die’ mentality were giving Green a slim chance of a comeback. Sam Nitsch could have had made it an interesting final few minutes had he got something on Aaron Hopper’s square pass across the six yard box, but as the ball trickled pass Nitsch the writing was on the wall. It was just not meant to be Green’s day.

At the final whistle, you only had to observe and hear the reaction from AW players, management and supporters to know how much that meant to them, and that they knew that had just dodged a bullet. Green were unlucky not have got anything from a game of football where both teams played hard and played very well.

A lot of confidence should be taken from this game by Green. Proof of what we are capable of and where we should be aiming come the end of the season.

This may be easy to say from a BGFC point of view, but here is the gist of a phone call that I received on Sunday evening. It was from a chap who was watching on Saturday but with no allegiance for either team, and by the way he was talking about the league, it was obvious he is involved with either the league or another club within it.

He called to compliment us ( and AW ) on a ‘absolutely fantastic’ game of football, played by two ‘talented’ teams. He ended his call with the disbelief and shock when he remembered he was watching two teams in Division 3. According to him, if someone was there watching and they didn’t know, and were asked, there’s no way they would imagine it was anything outside of the top two divisions.

Scant consolation for the Green, but huge recognition for where we have come from, and where we can go!
MOTM? If decided on the first half, then it would be very hard to choose. Mick Slade was solid at the heart of the defence, as was Rob Sexton who did well against a lively winger. Mike Brooker and Pete De-Kisshazy bossed the midfield in the first half and up front Aaron Hopper was a menace all game. MOTM this week does go to Aaron Hopper. Hard working and skilful show in his ‘un-preferred’ position….leading to the AW ‘carrier bag’ man telling me after the game, “ ….if that number 12 didn’t turn up with a hangover, he would have destroyed us! “.

As we thought, little does he know! Lol.