GARNETT BOHEMIAN 1ST TEAM REPORT
Sat 8th March 2003 Lindisfarne 1 (0) vs. (1) 4 Garnett Bohemians

The Green and Black recorded their eighth win in a row with a hard earned victory at Wallsend Sports Centre against a typically determined Lindisfarne side.

Garnett were strengthened by the return of strike force Jason Thompson and Danny Sherwood and wide player Rich Watson. New signing Matt Buckley slotted in at right back. Garnett started at a high tempo determined not to get off to another slow start, Sherwood set the tone by being the first to put a challenge in, the first of several from Garnett players that were not appreciated by the home side.

It soon became clear that Garnett's pace and precision were going to be too much for the home defence, and chances were soon created. Unfortunately excellent goal keeping and selfishness kept the score line blank. David Alexander shot ridiculously from the by-line with Sherwood free at the back post and the otherwise impressive Neil Hindley and Sherwood followed suit from slightly better angles but with two men waiting for the pullback and a simple tap in. Garnett were almost punished for this when a lack of communication between keeper Poole and his defence led to a Lindisfarne striker chasing the ball into an empty net, Buckley tugged him back for a penalty and there would have been no complaints if the Red Card had been shown. Fortunately the powerfully struck penalty clipped the top of the bar. This near escape seemed to inspire Garnett who scored thrice in the ten minutes leading up to half time. Watson seemed to have joined the greedy gang when he shot from a narrow angle but luckily the ball hit the post to fall at the feet of Thompson who fired home. With Alexander and Hindley switching positions, Garnett looked better balanced and they were both involved in the build-up to the second goal. Thompson was adjudged to have been tripped in the box after an incisive break down the left. Sherwood coolly slotted home the penalty only for it to be ordered to be retaken fro encroachment, he kept his nerve to net again. Thompson scored the third from another rebound, shortly before half time, tapping in from close range.

Despite playing up the hill in the second half, Garnett were confident of maintaining a high tempo and taking the game further away from Lindisfarne. They started the second half playing some superb football but with Lindisfarne wisely defending deeper and the final ball sometimes lacking, they did not get the rewards their approach play warranted. Out of the blue Lindisfarne who had hardly been in the Garnett half all game scored when lack of communication at the back allowed their impressive left sided player to nip in to clip the ball over Poole. This goal gave the home side a lot of confidence and they continued to compete hard for the rest of the game. With aggressive centre half Tom Webb having his best ever game for the 1st team and Buckley efficiently handling Lindisfarne's most dangerous player, they were restricted to long range efforts which rarely called Poole into action. It goes without saying that skipper Shaun Cavanagh was his rock like self and left back Craig Rowson steady and intelligent.

In midfield Dave Mercer had another immense game, winning tackles all over the pitch. It is quite incredible to see how he has developed as a footballer in the last 12 months. Hindley had an equally impressive game alongside him but needed to, as Lindisfarne's midfielders were full of running. With Thompson tiring another new signing Paul Docherty came on at left midfield with Alexander going up front and Hindley returning to the middle. It was Docherty who scored the fourth, which effectively killed the game shinning in after Sherwood had out jumped the home defence. There was still time for Alexander to rattle the cross bar, as Garnett continued to swarm forward. After two easy games, this was a good test but everyone knows the team will have to work harder and communicate better for the next game against run away title favourites Felling Grayhound.

Team:
J.Poole, M.Buckley, C.Rowson, N.Hindley, T.Webb, S.Cavanagh, R.Watson, D.Mercer, D.Sherwood 1, D.Alexander, J.Thompson 2 (P.Docherty 1)

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