Following the trials over the previous two weeks, the newly formed Garnett Academy team found themselves fielding six new young players against Rutherford’s third team on a sunny and surprisingly wind free afternoon at Bullocksteads.

The Academy started brightly arguably creating the best chances in the earlier exchanges and looking far the superior team with their passing ability and work rate.

The pressure finally paid off when the Rutherford keeper passed a free kick straight to an unmarked Cowles who despatched into an empty net.

With half time approaching the academy played some great football down the left hand side to release Danskin who coolly lifted it over the keeper for seemed like Garnett’s second goal. However the referee disallowed it for offside even though the linesman (one of their players) had given nothing and was in the other half of the pitch at the time.

The ref blew the whistle for half time and Garnett looked comfortable with their 1-0 lead but it was stressed that they would need to keep it tight in the early exchanges in the second half if they wanted to win the game.

Unfortunately within 10 minutes of the restart Rutherford were 2-1 up due to firstly some over eagerness to get to the ball from Holme and then his audacious attempt to better Gary Kelly for the lowest header in footballing history, unfortunately both resulted in allowing the same Rutherford striker a one on one with Crerer which he didn’t waste.

Shortly after, a mix up down Garnett’s right saw the ball pulled back to the edge of the area to see Rutherford take a 3-1 lead. At this point heads could have dropped but Garnett came back very strongly in the remainder of the game.

A Cullen thunderbolt of a throw found Cowles unmarked at the back post, who finished neatly with an overhead kick to bring the score back to 3-2.

Garnett Legend Powlett entered the fray with 15 minutes remaining in a Watto style target man roll up front (but judging by the movement it was more like Fordy without the skill), managing a nice layout (or mis control) to Christian 15 yards out who managed to screw his shot wide. From another Cullen throw the ball was half cleared to Robins to went for power rather than placement, which saw the ball end up 50 yards behind the goal.

As Garnett continued to push forward they were enevitablity caught on the break and Rutherford put the game beyond doubt with their fourth goal of the afternoon.

he game then petered out to a 4-2 defeat for the Academy, which although the result was disappointing the performance was definitely one to build on in future weeks.

Author: A.Robins

Team: Crerer, Farrant, Cullen MOM, Robins, Holme, Holmes (Powlett), Inman, Christian, Cowles (2), Jewkes, Danskin

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.