We were desperate to make an impact on a team that we knew were going to be one of the real title challengers this year. An early injury to Rich Holme at left back ten minutes in did nothing to help and soon Methsoc were ahead. Methsoc's tall ginger forward got away from the defence and put in a low cross from our left. Lewis was unlucky not to have cleared, just taking the pace off the ball for an easy finish eight yards outs. Things didn't get any better after Rich went off and Keith Jones deputised at left back. Another cross from our left, and a flat footed defence allowed Methsoc's second from two yards. And not ten minutes later we were 3 down after their pacey forward got ahead of our defence once more and finished coolly.

Phil Church was then switched to left back, with Jones centre half, as Garnett tried to get something out of the game. The last fifteen minutes of the first half saw a Garnett side capable getting something but drew a blank. The B's came out in the second half determined and had a few good chances with Sam doing well down the right and Marshall and Mike making good runs into the box. Lewis Brooke was doing well to contain their forward, and excellent running off his line by Shaw helped keep the score attainable. Then a quickly taken free kick by Tomei to Sam down the right caught Methsoc off guard and a pin point cross was converted by the on rushing Marshall. Methsoc then started pressing themselves and some excellent stops by man of the match Shaw, again superb between the sticks, stopped Methsoc increasing their lead. Then Shaw was unfairly judged to have pulled a Methsoc player down in the box and despite a good connection was unable to save to resulting penalty to truly put the game beyond Garnett's reach.

A disappointing result that makes any serious challenge this year all the more difficult. An awful spell for the first half an hour effectively killed off the game but Garnett showed good determination not to let their heads drop and continued to battle.

Author: Churchy

Team: E.Shaw (=MoM), S.Cook, R.Holme (M.Sage), L.Brooke, P.Church (=MoM), H.Tomei, S.Collins, D.Ford, K.Jones, L.Marshall 1, A.Stobbart

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.