Interpon Bensham could not have picked a worse day to play Garnett A - following their disappointing display against Chemfica A – the green and black played in a determined and ruthless fashion to finish with an impressive 11-0 victory.

The A’s arrived at Coach Lane to find they were again on the wider pitch and were surprised by the lack of what was thought to be an ever present gale force wind. Conditions were good and the surface was still in great shape, although it was very hard and bobbly in some areas.

Bensham got a warning of what was to come in the first 5 minutes when Skilbeck scored what was arguably the finest goal of the season for Garnett A. After an early offside decision against the Interpon forward 10 yards outside the Garnett area, centre back Rodden played an excellent long free kick towards Skilbeck, which he brought down from right foot to left and round the centre half with one touch then hit an immediate left foot volley which curved powerfully into the top right corner past the keepers despairing dive from 25 yards. The roar reverberated around Coach Lane and Bensham, looking a little shell-shocked, must have been worried about how the rest of the match would go.

Lee Kent began to make some excellent runs down the left flank, supported by great passes from left back Deeble and also helped out by Skilbeck who provided an easy outlet to feet. It was one such run that led to the second goal, with Kent cutting inside in the area to strike a fierce shot towards the bottom left hand corner which the keeper could only parry. The tenacious Holme followed up diligently and tucked away the rebound for the easiest of goals to begin his tally, which eventually reached an improbable five.

The next goal arrived as good pressure, once again down the left wing, led to a Garnett corner. Skilbeck swung the ball towards the far post which cleared all but the head of Blogg arriving late at the back post, to power a header home from all of a yard. Skilbeck was praised for this tremendous cross to which he replied “I was trying to score”.

Centre back Rodden retired though injury to be replaced by Robins who produced a confident display at the back, cutting out attacks and distributing the ball sensibly. The Bensham centre half also left the field during the first half after a challenge with Skilbeck left him prostrate on the ground, clutching his knee in some considerable pain and it was clear he had done some damage.

This was followed by some frustration for the Garnett front men as Holme was released down the inside right channel on two occasions and it appeared as though Skilbeck or Kent would have the simplest tap-ins if the ball was squared across the 18 yard box, Holme elected to shoot each time, with the keeper saving both efforts. Holme soon atoned for these errors of judgment by scoring two more goals to complete his hat-trick.

For Holme’s second, Scott, as so often this season, became provider from a kick from hands. Having read a Bensham cross well and collected, he punted the ball forwards towards Skilbeck, who flicked on for the onrushing Holme to finish his third one-on-one much better than the first two, rounding the keeper before slotting in from an acute angle. Holme soon added his third from close range to take the score line to five nil at half time.

Blogg had no complaints in his half time speech, whilst stressing the need not to become complacent in the second period. Stand-in captain Scott added somewhat more forceful rhetoric, demanding more of the same. He made it clear that winning 6 or 7 nil would not be acceptable against what they had exposed as poor opposition and the general feeling was that double figures should be pushed for, having been in similar positions previously and relaxed.

These words seemed to have been heeded as Garnett scored again within 10 minutes, albeit an own goal, after Perry had delivered a beautiful ball from a free kick into the area betwixt defence and goalkeeper that the centre back could not leave. Unfortunately for him, his header looped straight into the top-left corner over his own keeper. Six nil.

Holme soon added the seventh, his fourth of the game, again from within the six yard box after somewhat of a scramble, and the target of at least ten looked entirely plausible. However, Interpon rallied valiantly, pushing hard for a consolation with good play from their left-back who joined the throng from the bench at half-time and was arguably the best player for the visitors. This period of pressure resulted in several corners, which the defence on the whole dealt with comfortably and Scott, on a couple of occasions, punched the ball clear from dangerous situations. Bensham continued to cross the ball to Scott who caught at ease twice. They also managed to contrive a chance for their number 10 who came second best to Scott, saving with his feet, from close range. This meant that twenty minutes had passed without either side adding to the score line.

Garnett began to pass the ball well again and Kent continued in his good work on the left was worrying defenders all the time, most notably when he cut inside and curled a tremendous effort from 25 yards towards the top right corner, beating the keeper all ends up, only to be denied by the crossbar. This signaled a return to scoring form for the A’s though as they soon forced a corner, with which Skilbeck and Blogg once again combined for Blogg’s second headed goal of the game.

The ninth goal followed the introduction of Ford, who came on in the centre of midfield and passed the ball well. A good period of passing from Garnett went through Ford, who released Skilbeck in the inside right channel. Skilbeck took one touch then delivered a crushing left foot drive into the top left corner from the angle of the box.

Garnett had to be alert to maintain their clean sheet though, as Interpon Bensham were always looking to hit them on the break. Another cross, called for by Scott and claimed caused problems as the keeper was hit in the back and knocked to the floor by centre half Monoghan, who had otherwise been outstanding, resulting in a lose ball. The large midfielder for Bensham loomed with Scott on the ground but the Garnett stopper just managed to swing a leg to kick the ball away from him, though it fell to another Interpon player who shot narrowly wide, however, Scott’s dive appeared to have this covered.

The tenth goal came in somewhat comical fashion as the ball struck Holme and went out for what was clearly a goal kick. The referee thought otherwise and pointed to the corner to the bemusement of all. Skilbeck attempted to be sporting and pass the ball back to Bensham, who were having none of it, saying “don’t take the p***” and put it out for another corner from which Skilbeck delivered a poor cross that somehow went across the goal line for Holme to tap in his fifth of the game and take the score into double figures.

There was still time for Ford to get on the score sheet as the visiting keeper dropped the ball following a shot in the dying seconds – he stabbed home the rebound from under a yard.

An excellent performance from all though it must be noted that Saturdays quarter final with R.V.I. will be an altogether different prospect where the A’s will be seeking revenge for a horrific second half showing in their league game. Keeper, Scott, who was injured for that game, will have a particular point to prove after crossed words with several R.V.I. players in that fixture.

Author: Rob Scott

Team: R.Scott, D.Ward, M.Deeble, N.Blogg 2, M.Rodden (A.Robins), R.Monaghan, T.Rigby (D.Ford 1), T.Perry, T.Skilbeck 2 (MoM), R.Holme 5, L.Kent

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.