Witan IIIs 2 - 1 Old St Mary's Reserves
Leaks to the press had dominated the Christmas period, with senior members of the Witan 3s squad apparently unhappy that management had enforced a strict fitness regime across the festive break. Draconian it may have been, but it paid off here as Witan's super fitness paid dividends, enabling a dramatic comeback against Old St Mary's Reserves.
The lads in the changing room
The first half
With rain pouring down in Bexley, the majority of the other games in the division were postponed. Witan's pre-game routine was thrown into chaos as Alastair Duncan pulled out ill and Andrew Robinson was beset with car troubles. That same disjointedness was evident throughout much of the first half, with rusty passing and poor touches on both sides. Danny Shins was in his element, almost managing to clear the roof of a nearby building. Old St Mary's pulled into gear first, finally putting together a few passes through midfield and finding a through ball in-between Shins and Peter Tam.
Witan struggled to respond, Peter Tam sliding in with fine margins to prevent a goal-bound chance. Theo and Fred Sturgis, again playing on opposite wings to each other, made a number of slaloming runs, including presenting Ben Wyver with a chance from the edge of the box but the Old St Mary's defence was equal to it.
The second half
3s went in at half time 1-0 down, cold, wet and miserable. Manager Nick Wyver gave what was roundly considered to be a Churchillian intervention, the team emerging visibly inspired for the second half. Good play down both wings, with rotating full backs Matt Watts, Tom Tam, and new signing Dylan Kaposi all creating chances on the edge of the box. Ben Wyver and Andrew Robinson, who were beginning to take control of the midfield, were both guilty of horrible shanks - high, wide, and not at all handsome.
'Nick's half time team talk really inspired me' - Andrew Robinson
Pressure was building, with Witan spending much of the second half camped in the opposition half. Old St Mary's still looked dangerous, however, on the break. Shins, Ben Wyver, and both Tam brothers making match saving interventions. At the other end, both Sturgis brothers and Brandon Beckford created chances but could not quite find their way through an obstinate defence. That is, until a deflected Beckford shot found the younger Sturgis brother, who jinked past a defender and attempted to cross it. Youthful fortune was on his side, the goalkeeper deflecting it in, with the dubious goals committee yet to rule on the official goalscorer.
From there, Witan piled on the pressure. Chances fell right across the front six, the defence pushing up so high that Peter Tam dropped down with an embarrassing bout of cramp. A rare Old St Mary's breakaway saw their striker shoot straight at Nick Wyver, who gathered gratefully. Freekick and corner after freekick and corner were wasted, with Robinson finally losing patience with the Sturgis brothers, taking over set piece duty, and immediately dropping the quality further. Finally, Don De Jong, who had been composed throughout in the middle of midfield, found Beckford's run beyond the Old St Mary's defence. Beckford opened his body up and, in a manner resplendent of Thierry Henry, slotted beyond the goalkeeper.
Witan could have had three at the very end, with Kaposi, Sturgis and Beckford running through on goal but somehow contriving to not get a shot off. All in all - a satisfying come back for the 3s, with superior fitness paying off, and long term injury Watts continuing his comeback. Shins took man of the match for a sterling performance at centre back, while Nick Wyver unjustly received haddock. Club Chairman Derek Randall was on the sidelines throughout, and looked visibly distressed that the game had not ended in a draw.
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