Kris Harding 52 mins
Macron SCFL Div 2
Sat 5 December
Oh joy, back into action after a 5 week break, and indeed longer for Gunny, Ryan Warr and Mike Spence who returned to the starting line up for the absent Whitehead, McGill and Towse and all 3 were superb on their returns, as we made the long trip to Jarvis Brook.
Always a tough place for opponents to go and come away with anything, and it took a very good all round team performance that was disciplined and organised to bring home the 3 points that took us to top of the SCFL Div2 table, and stretch the unbeaten start in the League to 9 games.
Playing up the slope, Beeding started brightly enough and won a succession of corners first half, but the 2 best chances fell to the home side with keeper Dan Banks making a terrific save from a 20 yard drive, and, standing big, forced the Brook striker to lift it high and wide when through 1 on 1. Otherwise the defensive shape was good and we did well to control the expected opening onslaught to turn round 0-0 at half time.
A change in formation second half and playing with the slope, Beeding were much more at it on the re-start, and with the stand out move of the match took the game to Jarvis Brook. Pat O’Sullivan came short to move the ball quickly to the left to find Ben Ward. Ben driving forward put a peach of a low cross for Kris to fire home first time from 12 yards, a super goal! Justin Gregory was inches away and Kris rattled the crossbar from a free kick were close however we weren’t able to extend the lead, but with Brook not really creating much as the half wore on, we were in the box seat. Micky Neatherway and a debut for Jude McManamon from the Under 18s were introduced to freshen things up for the final 15 and looked dangerous on the break.
Jarvis Brook threw men forward in search of a goal but the Beeding defence were at their best to see the game out for another 3 points on the road. With just one goal conceded in the last 6 League games, and that was a penalty at Rottingdean, it’s clear what is giving us the sound base to make the start we have and taken us to the top 1/3rd through the season. The back 4, and Gunny as the holding midfielder were excellent, and when breached, keeper Dan is in super form, and deservedly is MOM, but the whole squad were excellent, at it from the off on the season re-start after lockdown 2.0.
Brook remain a tough place to go for visitors, and in George Holman they have one of the best centre backs in Div 2. It was a hard fought encounter, and their efforts to make the whole experience Covid safe was very much appreciated.
League leaders Copthorne came away with nothing from the trip to Rustington, losing 4-1, and with TD Shipley winning at Ferring, it’s just 2 points covering the top 4 teams in the table. Next up, we are home to League newcomers Charlwood, ko 2pm at Steyning on the 3G.
UBFC Line Up: Banks Gregory Jamieson Spence Trower Gunn Ward Rowland Warr Harding O’Sullivan.
Used Subs: Neatherway, McManamon
Scorers: - Kris Harding
MOM: Dan Banks