Battersea’s second game of the season saw us taking on Kingsborough. With last weeks defeat fresh on the mind it was important for the team to give a good performance to both kick-start our season and put some vital points on the board. Preparations for the game could not have started worse with key members of our squad running late, adding to our already depleted squad. However, despite the poor preparations Battersea started on the front foot with Ironsides taking the initiative. It wasn’t long until Damion showed good trickery and speed to beat his man down the left, bursting into the box before cutting the ball back for Tony, who attempted an audacious backheel. Although Tony was unable to get a good connection on his attempt he did succeed in forcing the Kingsbrough defender to clear the ball into one of his own players, resulting in the ball rebounding into the back of the net! Although the goal may have been slightly fortunate it was no more than the ironsides deserved. Going into halftime the message was to get the ball down and continue to play as we had dominated the game with the ironsides keeper having very little to do.
The second half begun where the first had ended, with the ironsides looking strong. With 20 minutes gone in the second half Damion was taken down on the right side midway in the opposition half. With the box loaded Miles Morgan delivered a wonderful set piece to the back post which was met by the head of Ben who headed the ball back towards the goal from a tight angle and into the bottom right hand corner. It truly was a great header from a player who is ‘living the dream’ and one that Alan Shearer himself would have been proud of! However, with the game at 2-0 a touch of complacency set in resulting in the opposition having 3 chances on goal. This included two one on one efforts which were expertly saved by our keeper, brilliantly tipping both efforts around the right hand post. The third effort was a speculative effort from Kingsborough which ‘forced’ our keeper into a ‘for the camera save’ in his electric cherry kit! At 2-0 the next goal was crucial and with 10 minutes to go the goal went the ironsides way. Leading by example Theo Parker used his tenacity and work rate to close down and disposes the last defender, before slotting home the ball past the advancing keeper into the bottom right hand corner. With the game drawing to a close and the points in the bag miscommunication in the ironsides defence caused confusion resulting in the opposition getting a late consolation goal. Although it was disappointing to concede it could not take away what had been an impressive and comfortable home display and a welcomed 3 points to kick start our season. With an honest bunch of lads and quite a bit of talent in there too, the ironsides can look forward to an exciting season ahead.
