Mens 4th XI vs Gillingham 2

This week's opposition was Gillingham, who are languishing near the bottom of the table. We nearly slipped up on a banana skin when we played them away with a bare 11 in the 1st half of the season. They went 3-0 up before we fought back to win 4-3.

This time we were determined to carry on our recent good form. We had an early home game on what was billed as "ladies day" at Trojans.

A new artisan coffee truck was in the car park (with excellent hot chocolate I am assured) and the huge assembled crowd hushed in anticipation.

The 4's got off to a strong start and won their 1st short corner within 5 mins. A slightly wayward injection saw Gareth "the stopper" take the ball right and smash it in for our first.

Throughout the 1st half, Trojans piled on more pressure and won more shorts, but Jaffa only succeeded in warming up their keeper. Their stalwart player "Seb" seemed to also intercept everytiing around the pitch and we went into the break only 1 up, but looking strong.

We had a calm half time talk and agreed to play around Seb and use our pacey young wingers to get round them.

We promptly carried on the 2nd half by passing straight to said "Seb"!

We had spent the 1st closing them down furiously and early on in the 2nd half this carried on. They passed right round the back at a 16 and Hendo, running tirelessly, flew into challenge and won the ball and slotted home from right infront of the goal.

This was the turning point for me and their spirit seem to ebb away with this calamitous gaff.

4's carried on attacking and won a series of shorts. We lulled them into a false sense of security with more straight strikes from Jaffa before switching to our proven left slip and Watto and Sukh both scored in quick succession to put us 4 up.

Trojans were really fired up by now and the goals were celebrated loudly and passions continued to run with several players getting over emotional (if I could get the video's to upload onto these match reports you could see!!).

4's kept up the pressure with Watto scoring a fifth. Rochey didn't really get tested until late on, but he looked determined to keep a clean sheet and made a couple of cracking saves.

Gareth ran all the way to the end of the match and even did a power slide on his knees with seconds to go - true determination that helped win him - Man of the Match.

Champagne Moment went to Dave Hendo - for crushing their spirit with the 2nd goal when they were being cocky/ stupid passing around at 16's.

4's march on and go 2nd equal in the table with the same goal difference as Bournemouth.

Watto allocated appropriate fines afterwards including the predictable "Ryan failing to score"!

Matt Dye's 4's are gathering pace and we're enjoying a good run.

Next match Poole away