Another Garnett derby and another rollercoaster game of high tempo, passionate football that epitomises the green and black way. Not since Rob Thorpe's babes beat The A's two long years and 5 derbies back has one seen a closer contested game between the Garnett students finest.

With the A's riding high and the B's struggling this season the A's rightly thought that this should be three points if minds were right.` However credit to Jambo's lads they were having none of it and came out looking well drilled and very determined.

The opening exchanges mainly saw the wind make life difficult for both teams to get the ball down and play on the deck. Both teams soon realised this was to be a war of attrition and the winner would be the team best able to adapt and see the other team off with dogged grit and determination.
Having said that the A's put together some good early pressure with Pearce in particular showing some good touches in the middle and Saturday A team player Ben Thorpe showing good skill in his first game with the Wednesday A's.

As the first half wore on it was the A's who looked the most likely to score with Mullan going close with a shot from the edge of the box. Thorpe also went close when he got himself into the box with a couple of good touches only to see his effort beat the impressive Kroon and then saved on the line from B team player Norm.

These chances seemed to spark the B's into life and young fresher Cowels in particular took the fight to the A's and had to be marked expertly by man of the match the A's centre back Allen.
With the A's playing decent enough football the B's began to use harder tactics to try and unsettle the more fluid A's. However Pearce was having none of it and came out on top after a crunching 50-50 with B team hard man and stalwart Rob Wallace to underline the A's statement of intent.

With the half drawing to a close Mullan was just off target when a viscious Heslop corner was met by Mullan's head and so at half time the team talk centred around the A's keeping the ball on the ground using the wings and being patient.

In second half for the first 20 minutes it was arguably the B's who came out stonger and caused the A's a few problems. Scott was forced into a good one on one save from the impressive Cowels before the A's once again took control of possession of the ball and started to mount serious pressure in the the final third. However with Jambo and Nunny providing what felt like a brick wall and Kroon making some fine stops the win seemed less and less likely as timed started to run away. With Mullan twice going close and a few scrambles the A's searched for a way through. It almost came when Heslop volleyed in the box. The shot was stopped by Kroon but fell back at Heslop's feet and unlike the talented one, he seemed to rush a little and blazed the rebound over the bar.

Determined to put things right for his team Heslop continued to go forward and was unlucky not to score when he and Emmot were judged to have strayed off side after Heslop had converted from an Emmot ball.

With minutes remaining the A's threw caution to the wind knowing that dropped points could seriously dent their championship hopes and take matters out of their hands and so went to a 3 4 3 formation with Allen moving up field.

With seconds remaining the gamble paid off when one last lung busting raid down the left from Polzin saw him reach the by line and as he fired across out of nowhere Brown arrived at the back post and his outstretched boot along with the covering defender's saw the ball home to win the game for the A's and break B team hearts.

All I can do is commend our team for never giving up but at the same time congratulate an almighty effort from a B team that on that performance will not only see them stay up but climb the table and overhaul a few other teams along the way.

atb

Author: Harty

Team: R.Scott, J.Mills, G.Polzin, C.Pearce, M.Brown 1, C.Allen (MoM), H.Tomei, N.Heslop, S.Emmot B.Thorpe, D.Mullen

Subs: C.Jackson

NB: The views expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily represent the
views of the Gosforth Garnett Bohemian Football Club as a whole.