Bengeo Tigers FC

After a truly memorable weekend of football seven days earlier, it was difficult to imagine things getting better. Today’s visitors to a soaked SG14 were Panathinaikos Youth. Panathinaikos have etched up an incredible record so far this season, unbeaten in five games, they’ve scored seventy-two goals and only conceded three. We knew it was going to be a tough day but as coaches we have a great belief in our kids and just hoped they could believe in their abilities today.

First of all we knew that the game would require a couple of good shot stoppers and we have to applaud Patch Sinfield and Keaton Weeks who volunteered for full games in goal and performed fantastically.

The first game was pleasing, the team kept their positions well and constantly closed down the visitors. Both sides had chances and the Panathinaikos number six constantly threatened down the left hand side. Their number six wasn’t given any opportunity to threaten as Joe Button and later Zoe Martin reduced his effectiveness by allowing him little time on the ball. It was this little fellow though who deceived Patch with the faintest of touches as the ball was struck through a packed goalmouth, 0-1.

As before, no heads went down and the team looked hungry to avenge. On 22 minutes Sam Belshaw took the ball from deep and ran at the visitors down the left. Sam pulled the trigger and fired a shot from twenty yards - Bengeo parents gasped - the ball went wide by the narrowest of margins. At the death of the first half, Patch pulled off a point blank save which meant the half ended 0-1 with all to play for.

More of the same for the second period. Zoe Martin tackled well early on, a Lewis Matthews shot was cleared by a header from their defender and Patch pulled off another good save. With five minutes to go, I sensed some nerves from the visitors and we encouraged the players to push forward. The visitors conceded a free kick; the offence occurring about 30 yards from the Panathinaikos goal line. Luc Howford stood by their keeper and Lewis Mathews placed the ball. Lewis hit the ball at great pace and it travelled straight as an arrow. I prayed that it wouldn’t knock Luc’s head off and fortunately he had the sense to duck down. The net rippled, 1-1 and a deserved equaliser. The coaches had nothing but praise for all eight players - another super, determined effort. A difficult choice but we awarded man of the match to Joe Button who had been asked to change position several times and had been a ray of light throughout the game.

We pushed and probed Panathinaikos right from the start of the second game. My match notes for the first five minutes read,
1.30 min - Will Orton post
3 min - Will Orton Crossbar
5 min - Will Orton just over crossbar.
The shots were being fired in, thanks to the industry of the midfield. This team were playing with real belief and I began to think that we could win this game. Keaton who performed admirably in goal made some stunning one on one saves and Max Lawrance came close on 19 minutes, his shot only just wide.
We nearly broke the deadlock in first half injury time, Max’s free kick found the head of Luke McCurry, the ball going just over the crossbar.

A brilliant double save by Keaton in the first minutes of the second half added to the rollercoaster of emotions on the Bengeo touchline. Thirty seconds later though we were punished when a cruel deflection found the Panathinaikos captain in space and Keaton had little chance, 1-2.

With fifteen minutes remaining, we took a gamble and changed to a more attacking formation. We asked Alphie Marshall and Lewis Thomas to command from defence and they carried out instructions to the letter. From here on we took control and started to look dangerous on the offensive. A Reece Giddens effort forced a corner. Reece cleverly played a short corner which the player receiving (sorry can’t remember who this was) swirled across to Alphie Marshall. Alphie having lost his boots in the week, took a shot wearing the bright yellow boots of Zoe Martin. Alphie’s effort flew into the top of the Panathinaikos goal 2-2.

Another intake of breath from the Bengeo parents as Keaton kept us in it with seven minutes remaining. We flooded forward towards the end, hungry for the winner. A decent run at their defence by Reece was snubbed out before Will Arch’s double effort, first denied by the crossbar and then the post. We defended a corner well and the ball broke. Reece Giddens took the ball on another run and found himself with only the keeper to beat - a decent effort saved by their keeper. The game finished 1-1, 2-2 on aggregate, so nearly a famous victory. Again eight stars on the field of play but we awarded man of the match to Keaton Weeks for his heroics in goal.

Unbeaten in five games but more importantly playing some wonderful football and playing as a team. Well done to all 16 Siberians today.