East Brighton Wanderers 2-2 Hassocks Fatboys Reserves

Sussex Sunday League Division Four
Sunday 1st September 2019
 

Here we go again then. A new season and new hope for Hassocks Fatboys Reserves as Reece Wickwar enters his first full season in charge of the club. This first league game of 2019-20 was also Reece’s 100th appearance for the club and from everyone involved, we appreciate your service and we are lucky to have you!

It’s Division Four football for the Reserves this year, a level that they should have probably been playing at last season if it wasn’t for the totally unrealistic ambition of former manager Jamie Stratton, who turned down relegation when it was offered. We’re not here to judge Stratton on that decision, but a third bottom finish in Division Three says everything.

With 22-year-old Nick Jones was away, it meant Justin Parker was called out of retirement before the new season had even kicked off. JP was in the sticks with a back four of Ross Joannides, Glen Clayton, Ali Jenkins and Nick Davie. Bruce Bignell and Kevin Ticehurst filled the holding midfield roles with Reece Wickwar slightly ahead and a front three of the veteran Simon O’Brien, Des Balderdash and debutant Greg Chappell.

East Brighton Wanderers started off strongly and were knocking the ball around very well. The ginger centre mid for Wanderers in particular was causing problems, as was the long haired right winger, who had an incredible amount of pace and skill as well as hair. No surprises that it was the hosts who had the first chance with a shot that went just wide.

The Fatboys remained calm and were still trying to play football the right way. This did however lead to its own problems, especially when Glen almost had a moment to forget as his short back pass was seized upon by the lurking striker. Thankfully Parker was on hand to smuggle the ball out for a corner. From the resulting delivery, the East Brighton centre back was left unmarked and his header forced Parker into an excellent save.

It wasn’t long before the deadlock was broken and there could be no complaints from the Fatboys. The Wanderers winger whizzed past Davie before crossing to the unmarked striker who tapped home from close range. 1-0 and the Fatboys looked in trouble.

Most of the danger was coming down the Fatboys’ left hand side. Davie was slowly getting to grips with it though, conceding a succession of throws and corners. From one corner, Wanderers had another chance as a lovely long range volley from the central midfielder blew just wide of the post.

At this point, Chappell began to come into the game more as he began to sober up. The debutant had endeared himself by turning up with a comedy moustache still drawn on his face from a party the night before.

Wanderers didn’t know what to think of this or what to do about his pace. Eventually, they decided that fouling him was the best way forward which allowed Wickwar to test his range but his delivery evade everyone including the Wanderers goalkeeper and sadly, the goal.

Wickwar created another chance when he danced through to cross to Balderdash whose chest and volley fizzed wide. The Fatboys player-boss then made an early tactical change in an attempt to add more physicality in the middle of the park, Ticehurst the sacrificial rabbit as Chris Clayton came on up top and Balderdash dropped into midfield.

East Brighton became a little more direct as a result which caused a different set of problems for the Fatboys. One long ball forward looked like it could he calmly headed back to Parker by Jenkins but instead the centre back slapped the ball home before a deceptively quick striker could good to it. The resulting free kick wasn’t dealt with properly either with Glen having to hack off the line.

Chappell and Wickwar linked up well which allowed the player-manager to unleash a hay maker which smashed the bar. Chappell then sent in an excellent delivery which found the veteran O’Brien two yards out. O’Brien provided a reminder of why he hasn’t headed a ball for the past 37 years of his career by somehow putting the chance over the bar.

Next it was the Fatboys’ turn to result to long ball. Davie smashed a clearance down field and El Bod did well to get on the end of it. Knowing that he wouldn’t have the energy to try and run the 30 yards to goal, he instead produced a nonchalant chip and the ambition very nearly paid off as it dropped just over the bar.

Balderdash dropping back allowed Bignell a bit more freedom to drive forward and that’s where the Fatboys’ first half equaliser came from. The Strictly Come Dancing professional tried his luck from range, forcing the goalkeeper into a good save. Remarkably given his age, it was O’Brien who reacted first to the loose ball and he made no mistake to smash it home for 1-1.

Bignell would go onto rattle the post before the break as the Fatboys ended the first half on top. Wanderers were grateful to hear the whistle and get the chance to regroup and they duly came out the stronger in the second half, knocking the ball about well. It wasn’t long before they retook the lead either, a through ball evading Jenkins and Clayton but not carrying through to Park which allowed the striker to nip in and smash home.

Wanderers continued to pile on the pressure and with the long hair winger again skipping past Davie, Clayton took drastic measures to scythe him down. Luckily for the Fatboys, the opposition striker took inspiration from O’Brien’s first half effort as he too put a free header from two yards over the bar from the free kick.

That miss seemed to wake the Fatboys up and they managed to get a foothold back in the game. O’Brien did superbly to find space down the right and he played in Chappell who was brought down in the box. Remarkably, the referee didn’t think it was an illegal tackle and so no penalty was awarded.

Wickwar again turned to his bench, this time with Sam Wilson and Sam Harding joining the action in place of Davie and Chappell. Harding has been attempting to complete every Parkrun in the country over the course of the summer and this has given him new-found pace. He put this to good use by pouncing on a nice El Bod pass to force the goalkeeper into an excellent save. That led to another corner from which Bob’s header beat the keeper but not the defender on the line.

It was all Fatboys now and a second equaliser of the afternoon duly arrived and in some style. Wickwar used his pace and trickery and he found Balderdash who unleashed a beauty from the edge of the area that flew into the top corner. One game into the campaign and we already have a Goal of the Season contender.

Wanderers didn’t seem to know how to respond to this as the Fatboys went in search of a winner. Harding was hauled down on the edge of the area with the ball rolling through to Bod who as now one-on-one. Frustratingly, the referee hadn’t waited to see if there would be an advantage and so back we came from the free kick. In fairness to the ref, he did apologise for that after the game which was nice to see. As somebody said, if we spent time after every game apologising for for our mistakes, then we’d be there until Tuesday.

We were in last chance saloon now as Balderdash attempted to bulldoze his way through, eventually earning a corner after a brilliant Wanderers tackle. That challenge inadvertently ended Balderdash’s afternoon as it left him with a nasty gash on his leg. On in his place for the final play of the game came Wickwar who had subbed himself off 15 minutes earlier for chairman Mark Potter. The corner fell to the head of Bod but he was slightly off the balance and so his effort went just wide.

Both sides could have felt genuinely aggrieved not to take all three points, but this performance an result bodes well for the Fatboys for the long season ahead. It’s certainly an improvement on last year, when we lost 3-0 to The View.
 

Fatboys

Justin Parker
When he retired in the summer but said he would continue to help out in an emergency, he probably didn’t imagine he’d be called upon for the first game of the season. He pulled off some excellent saves and offered great communication.
Ross Joannides
First ever game at right back and he seemed to enjoy the new-found freedom that come with getting up and down. Switched to left back and did a good job of keeping the long haired winger quiet.
Ali Jenkins
His organisation was vital at the back. Sent in some nice set piece deliveries but the less said about that first half handball, the better.
Glen Clayton
Recovered well after a scary back pass and was a real man-of-the-match contender, making some vital interceptions and playing some nice balls forward.
Nick Davie
Was up against a good winger but eventually found his feet. He played some calm passes up the line and got more involved in an attacking sense as the game went on, helping to support O’Brien.
Bruce Bignell
His conversion to a central midfielder has added real energy to the midfield. He supported the defence by constantly tracking back and was equally effective going forward.
Kevin Ticehurst
Taken off early due to a tactical reshuffle which had to be done. It was nothing against him as he played some nice passes and supported the back four well in his 20 minutes.
Reece Wickwar
Received the WWE Smackdown Women’s championship title belt before the game in recognition of his 100th appearance. He went onto play like a champion too, claiming an assist in the process.
Simon O’Brien –
The veteran striker caused problems throughout. It was classic SOB really; missed a sitter and then scored a well taken goal shortly after.
Des Balderdash
Scored a wonder goal and played very well overall with high levels of energy. The game changed when he dropped back into midfield, where he was a real presence.
Greg Chappell
Quite the introduction for the debutant as he arrived after a heavy night with a fake moustache still drawn on. He was excellent on the wing and if this is him hungover, then we can’t wait to see how good he’ll be when sober.
 

Subs

Chris Clayton
Added a much needed physical presence up top when he came on, especially from set pieces. Linked up well with everyone going forward. The only thing missing from his game was a goal.
Sam Harding
His summer of park runs looks to be paying off as his pace really impacted on the game when he came on. Created chances and almost grabbed a goal himself.
Sam Wilson
Was introduced at right back with Joannides switching to left back. Linked up well with Harding and made some vital tackles as Wanderers looked to play on the counter.
Mark Potter
Shielded the back four very well as well as providing some typically great facial expressions when things weren’t going according to plan. He also did well to calm Davie down when running the line.
Jules Clay
After spending the summer on various golf courses, the veteran full back came onto play on the wing for the last 10 minutes. Kept his passing simple and was a useful outlet.
 

Goals

O’Brien, assist Bignell
Balderdash, assist Wickwar
 

Man of the Match

Glen Clayton and Reece Wickwar were both excellent, but this week it goes to Ross Joannides for an excellent display at right bacK. He then switched to to left back where he was the only Fatboy who managed to tackle the long haired winger.