GOSFORTH GARNETT BOHEMIAN REPORT
Wed 21st April 2004 Felling Willows 1 (0) Gosforth Bohemians Garnett 1 (0)

Thus it arrived, the 21st April, or judgement day as it shall be known. Bohs entered the final league game of the season needing only a draw to win promotion in to the Northern Alliance 1st Division in this, their debut season in the Alliance. This however was not going to be an easy task. The opposition, Felling Willows, boasted an impressive home form, losing only once and drawing a mere 2 times previously.

The signs were not good, inspirational leader/manager Alan Wilkinson was unable to be ring side due to an injury earlier in the week, reports suggested that Alan had been hit by the sniper that had so doggedly troubled Roger and his glass ankle in previous seasons. Further bad news came as the team was leaving to match as inform Hindley had been unable to leave early enough to travel with the team, and as usual Menton's outstanding time keeping ability meant that he was going to be late as well.

Fortunately for the green and black, manager Alan had drafted in more than adequate caretaker boss in the form of son Paul, thanks to the fine transport arrangements Hindley made it to the ground shortly after most of the team and luckily even Menton managed to make it before kick off.

The match itself started at a predictable frantic pace, with Willows attacking the Garnett defence for all they were worth. Like many times previously this season the back four were more than able to cope with this pressure. Marshalled by the tremendous Cavangh, who kept the tricky number 10 in his pocket all game, the defence stuck solidly to there job, even Taff resisted the temptation to dive in and could be seen standing the forward line up.

This Felling pressure persisted for 20 minutes until Bohs began to assert so dominance on the game. With the midfield starting to gain possession Bohs started to find the feet of Hall and space for Thompson to run into who was making a mockery of the Felling central defence pairing. This dominance didn't pay, as final balls into the box were not finding a green and black shirt. Garnett were almost made to pay as a through ball was latched onto by the Felling forward who raced on into the penalty box only to be denied by the brilliant Hepburn who came out and smothered the shot superbly. This was just one of a number of examples were the Bohs keeper dominated his area throughout the came.

The first half finished in stalemate with both defences coming out on top, however mood was buoyant as Garnett felt the Geordie whippet would get more joy in the second half. This proved to be an intuitive statement as it led to the garnett goal. Thompson ran on to a ball played between full back and centre half, darting for the penalty he beat the centre back with ease who could only hack down Thompson in the area. A penalty was duly awarded.

With the Bohs usual penalty taker off the pitch (perhaps a good thing given his previous record this season), an unlikely and some would say dubious source stepped up to take the spot kick. With the rest of the team dumbfounded by his "confident stroll" in the area it was Mercer who stepped up to take the penalty. With hearts in mouths and some unable to watch the spot kick was hammered straight down the middle of the goal past the despairing keeper.

One - nil up Garnett rallied and started to play good passing football. After one such move a corner provided the opportunity for the ball to be played into the box, after which, all hell broke loose and after a number of goal line clearances a Willows player drilled the ball towards his own goal. All in a blue shirt (away kit) thought the ball was in, however it was merely a crafty way of clearing the ball as it struck the foot of the post and flew out of the area.

Then, after a missed timed tackle a free kick was played into Bohs 18 yard box; unfortunately, a Felling beat the on rushing Hepburn to the ball that looped harmlessly into the Garnett goal.

The rest of the game was played out in stalemate without the expected onslaught that should have occurred from Willows considering they needed to win the game to gain promotion. However, testimony to the fight in the Garnett team that everyone battled hard to the end and didn't let this happen. Sherwood was even seen watching the ball out of play in his own penalty box!

The only scare Garnett received was with 2 minutes to go, with a rush of blood to the head Brown hacked down a player on the edge of the box, however Hepburn in goal gathered the resulting free kick easily. As the final whistle went Garnett celebrated gaining promotion on their first attempted with, what has become a well used catchphrase "Ave some of that".

Author: Mercer

Team: F.Hepburn, M.Brown, M.Menton, A.Alexander, S.Cavanagh, D.Cave (D.Sherwood), N.Hindley, D.Mercer 1 (MoM), D.Mullen, J.Thompson (D.Corcoran), J.Hall.

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.

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