Warlingham Colts – 2 Oxted United – 3

Squad - Ollie, Harrison, JDL, Will R, Leeboy, Louie D, Tom, Will R, Brody, Jamielee, Dec, Ronnie, Elliot

Another double-header as this extended season reaches it’s climax. Warlingham had been there or there abouts all season, recently though they had fallen away. In fairness they didn’t seem the most organised outfit we’ve faced. Goal posts were only being put up 5mins after the scheduled KO time, and conversations about who would ref were being had. Eventually, the ref appeared 15mins after the scheduled KO. This played into Warlingham’s hands as their 11th player only turned up 10mins after that.

What’s the saying “Fail to prepare, Prepare to mess your visitors around and really cheese them off on a blistering hot Sunday morning” – or something like that….

So to the game (finally). Warlingham liked to play and had their fair share of possession. Leeboy was the busier of the full backs, but stuck to his task well. Colts game plan seemed to be predictable enough, feed the right winger. This drew the obvious pressure and corners. Colts delivery was good and we were hesitant at best, failure to clear one such corner resulted in Colts putting in from close range 0-1. HT

Second half would see more endeavour from our boys and a pinch more urgency. Ronnie slipped his full back after a great ball from Brody. He drove into the box and neatly slotted past the static goalie into the far corner. 1-1. Now we could kick on, couldn’t we? Colts retook the lead with a fortunate goal. A back pass would bobble and be unkind to our custodian, a miskick and the Colts striker would capitalize. 1-2.

Colts were fortunate to be ahead, and we were leggy. Then realism hit home, they weren’t that good, and we were losing. Tom and Will R in the middle started to dominate and play, our back four started to play on the front foot, our forward three of Elliot, Ronnie and Jamielee were causing havoc. And then there was the simply unplayable Brody. Give him space and he will punish any team; Colts gave him far too much time and space and when they tried to get close he moved the ball so quickly he made his own time and space. The previous week we were punished because we didn’t close down quick enough, Warlingham were falling into this trap. Brody collected the ball halfway into the Colts half, unchallenged it was perfect for the shot, Brody obliged and we were level, 2-2 great strike. Moments later Brody was presented with another chance, this time cutting in from the left, shifting feet and sending another rocket into the corner. 3-2.

We got out of jail with this result, but overall deserved the first 3pts. We were the better side after all.