Match Details

Sunday 21st September 2008
Home to Chislehurst Wanderers

Shirley Town FC  3    Chislehurst Wanderers  2

With six debutants in the starting line up and another two on the bench, a new-look Shirley Town entered the previously uncharted waters of 11-a-side football against a side we had twice lost narrowly to last season. How would the team cope without Brad (on holiday), Jake (ill) and Ted (cricket)?

On a carpet of a pitch, the visitors took the lead on 8 minutes with the unmarked number 7 slotting home after good work by the impressive captain. The lead didn´t last long though as a long ball out of defence found Charlie and he ran unchallenged for 20 yards before slotting past the keeper from just inside the penalty area. Five minutes later and the Poppies took the lead. Stephen´s excellent cross into the box caused havoc in the Chislehurst defence and under pressure from Musamali a defender could only prod the ball past his own keeper.

Chislehurst equalised six minutes into the second half when the ball was expertly kept in play on the right touchline by the green-booted skipper who weaved his way into the box before firing past Sam into the bottom corner. Chances came either way but neither side could take them and with two minutes left the game appeared to be drifting towards a hard-fought draw. However, the home side weren´t to be denied and man of the match Noah´s through ball to Matthew was despatched into the net with a cool finish by the speedy winger to give Shirley Town a 3-2 victory.

A keenly contested game played in great spirit by both sides, and a game that either side could claim to have deserved to win. A great start to the season with some fine individual performances but football´s a team game. As Jose Mourinho said, players don´t win matches, teams do. Roll on next Sunday.

TEAM Sam, Declan, Finn, James, Aaron, Matthew, Noah, Charlie, Stephen, Rahul, Musamali Subs Connie (Rahul, ht), Ife (Musamali, ht)

GOALS Charlie 17, own goal 21, Matthew 56