Garswood 2 Matthiola 7, Fife 4 Garswood 4
Two games into the new ‘11-a-side’ season and if nothing else they have been a couple of cracking games that have produced goals a plenty. With 15 players signed and registered, keepers Jack PARRY and Adam BOWERS, defenders Thomas SPENCER, Daniel WHITE, Harry SCOTT, Harry ADAMSON, Luke SIMPSON and Joe DINLEY, midfielders Jack UNSWORTH, Tyler DUFFY, Josh GORE, James HOOK and Thomas HUGHES and finally strikers Jack O’BRIEN and Jamie WERNHAM-CROOKS, Garswood were really looking forward to the first game on the ‘big’ pitch.
First up were last seasons Cup Final opponents Matthiola who traveled back to Garswood just a few short weeks after beating them in a friendly and once again they proved to be a tough team to play against. Garswood actually went ahead after 15 minutes when James HOOK had the honor of scoring the first goal for the new squad when he confidently struck home from the penalty spot. Assistant Manager, Ian Scott, who was in charge for the day in Kevin O’Neills absence, believed the ref should have blown the final whistle at this point in the match and couldn’t believe there was still 45 minutes to play. Unfortunately by half time Garswood were 4-1 down after Matthiola seemed to capitalize on every error and then in the second half things got worse when, not one, but two Garswood players scored own goals after keeper Adam BOWERS parried shot shots against Harry SCOTT and then Daniel WHITE, this,added to a penalty awarded against them, made the score an unflattering 7-1. Tyler DUFFY scored a great late goal from the edge of the box to give Garswood supports something to cheer before the end.
After the game keeper, Adam BOWERS told waiting reporters, “My dad said it was like watching the Alamo out there at times, I’ve never seen the film but its one of my dad’s favourite cowboy movies, I know he also likes watching another film about cowboys called Broke Back Mountain”.
Although a disappointing result Garswood had been up against a really good team and the players had given their all and played some good football, Man of the Match was awarded to Daniel WHITE who had played out of position at left-back and put in a great solid performance.
Second game of the new era saw a classic end to end encounter against Fife that had everything you could ask for in a match. Changes had to be made to the Garswood starting line-up after Harry ADAMSON was unavailable due to him having the enviable role as the match mascot for the Wigan Athletic v Tottenham game. Although after the defeat Wigan manager Roberto Martinez was bemoaning the ‘marla suerte’ Harry had bought and was even more displeased when he found out Harry has been seen wearing a Man Utd shirt regularly at training.
Back to the game and 4 times Garswood came from behind to finally earn a draw and even then both teams could have snatched a win as the game flowed from end to end. Both Garswood keepers Jack PARRY and Adam BOWERS pulled off some fabulous saves in each half and once again made it an impossible decision to split them . Besides the fighting performance, which saw Garswood never give up, the other pleasing point was the fact three more players got themselves on the score sheet, Josh GORE and Jamie WERNHAM-CROOKS (with a large deflection) claimed their first of the season and the ever impressive Jack O’BRIEN got a brace which included the forth with a great lob from 10 yards out. So five lads have found the back of the net in just two games and with a bit more shooting practice there’s time for everyone, even Joe DINELY and Thomas HUGHES, to bag themselves a goal.
Man of the match was tough one, both keepers made great saves, James HOOK did everything but score, Harry SCOTT made a match saving goal line clearance in the final minute, however the award went to another defender in right back Joe DINELY who had a faultless game, winning tackles and finding a team mate with every pass.
