BATTERSEA IRONSIDES RESERVES 1-1 BLETCHINGLEY RESERVES

The first game for the reserves finally arrived against a Bletchingley team who did the double over the reserves last year. The game provided a number of debuts for the reserves, Ed Mensah came in at right back, Stefan Hollingsworth at right midfield and Richard Thompson up front. Another welcomed addition to the reserves was Ernie Ako making his first appearance for the reserves up front. The reserves started with a 4-4-2 in very wet conditions after the heavens opened right before kick-off. A frantic start saw the Ironsides on the back foot initially with players rushing and giving away possession too easily allowing Bletchingley to have the first effort on goal. The first 15 also saw the first substitution of the season with Jamie 'Dave' Reid coming off with a recurring back injury picked up during pre-season and Lewis Hills slotting in at left back. After the initial period the Ironsides started to control the game with a lot of good work coming down the left side of the team with Miles Morgan and Richard Thompson using the space to open up the Bletchingley back four and get them on the back foot a number of times. The only controversy of the first half came towards the end of the half - Richard Thompson made a good run down the left side and was breaking into the box by the by line when it appeared he had been caught from behind by the slow and wrong footed defender, but the ref thought otherwise and gave a goal kick. The second half started how the first half had ended with Battersea having the better of the play but lacking the control and conviction to make their possession count and it was to cost the reserves. A debatable 'foul' by Daniel Clarke just on the outside of the box on the right hand side gave Bletchingley an opportunity at goal. In the wet conditions a fizzed shot at goal slipped from the normally reliable Luke Woodmansey's grasp and fell in front of him as he tried to reclaim he unfortunately pushed it further away from himself nicely into the oncoming Bletchingley players who thought Christmas had come early and gave them an undeserved 1-0 lead. This kicked the Ironsides into action who started to control and dominate the game, it also prompted the debut of Chafik Dahmani up front with Stefan Hollingsworth making way with Ernie Ako moving into right midfield. A bout of sustained pressure from the Ironsides finally brought reward when a free kick on the Ironsides left hand side brought up the goal scoring centre back Daniel Clarke to continue to add to his goals from last year with a precise header from the delightfully delivered ball from Miles Morgan. The game was for the Reserves to win but a number of wasted chances in the last 15 minutes of the game saw Bletchingley hang on for a point and the reserves start the season in frustrating fashion.