Vichouse Sports 5-2 AFC Southchurch (L Hammond, G Pearce)

AFC arrived well on time and in good spirits, but without gaffer JJ, striker Tubbs and Birnie and Keys who are still injured. JJ picked the team beforehand with Tel Hammond continuing to deputise in goal, a debut at right back for Jamie Abbott with Trigger at left back with Page & Kev Ellis at centre back. A midfield four of Stevens, Bloom, Beisser & L Singleton with Hammond and Gary Pearce deputising up front. Ad Pearce and Scotty Jones were on the bench.

Vichouse Sports looked an experienced and very tall side so knew they would be a danger at set pieces. The game started ok for the Villargers but once again never really got going early on. An awkward back pass from Page caught out Hammond in goal and a corner was awarded. The ball came in and was cleared, but only to a Vichouse player who hit an unstoppable volley from outside the area to make it 1-0 with 10 gone.

A few half chances fell to Pearce and Hammond, but Vichouse continued to look the more likely to score with the ball over the top. Page was struggling with a groin injury and gave away a free kick around 25 yards from goal, just to the left. A wall was arranged by Tel Hammond but the Vichouse player just stroked the ball into the bottom corner to make it 2-0.

AFC continued to try and play but were hitting hopeful balls long which was being dealt with easily by the tall Vichouse back line. AFC had chances from set pieces, one corner was cleared and met superbly on the volley by Singleton but hit a Vichouse defender on the line, who didnt know much about it - it looked like it was going to be one of those days.

That proved to be the case when Vichouse won a corner and following a scramble in the area the forward hit high into the roof of the net to make it 3-0. The remainder of the half became very scrappy and a few dirty challenges were flying in, with the ref appearing to lose control of the match. Half time.

The second half started and AFC were the better side, and pushing to get back into the game. Their positive play resulted in a dubious penatly being awarded for the Villargers, which was converted by Hammond to make it 3-1. AFC enjoyed their best spell of the match with chances falling to Pearce and Nick Stevens unlucky not to score.

The second half became bitty and scrappy and the weather changed and some heavy rain made conditions difficult to play, then despite good play from AFC, Vichouse were awarded an even more dubious penalty. Nick Stevens made the challange clearly outside the area, but the ref, who was continuing to have an awful game incredibly awarded a penalty. It was dispatched well to make it 4-1. AFC heads dropped completely after their bright start to the half. Jamie Abbott was then caught late and had to be replaced by Ad Pearce, and Scotty Jones came on to replace Nick Pearce.

Mid way through the half, a hopeful cross by the Vichouse midfielder was somehow pushed into his own net by Hammond to make it 5-1. AFC's woes were further compounded when Page succumbed to his groin injury and had to be carried from the pitch. AFC, down to 10 then scored a good goal, by lobbing the Vichouse keeper from outside the area to make it 5-2. The teams went through the motions and the final whistle blew.

Regardless who was missing, AFC never got started and Vichouse wanted it more on the day. They appeared to be content on breaking up play in midfield and the tactic worked well with players getting needlessly involved in petty scraps, playing directly into their hands. The game seemed to pass by without AFC stringing more than two passes together which is what we are good at and never really looked like getting the points.

First ever league defeat in AFC Southchurch's history, I suppose it had to happen eventually but the manner in which it happened was really dissapointing against a side who we really should have beaten if we played the way we know we can. We will look forward to playing them again in the reverse fixture when we WILL put the record straight.

Its gone now and we need to look forward to making amends against Emstar next Sunday, away once again in the league.

Forget about today, lets move on.

Richy