The Blues took to the road on Saturday to play against fellow community/fan owned club, Peacehaven & Telscombe FC for the Football Supporters Association sponsored, Brian Lomax Cup.
A cruel last gasp goal from the home side deprived the Blues of what would have been a very well-deserved draw and six months custody of the Brian Lomax Cup adorning the Creasey Park Trophy Cabinet.
But this was a day when just about everything that could go wrong did go wrong. The coach which carried the players and a large number of supporters finally hit the M1 at 12:20 pm having been scheduled to leave Creasey Park at 10 am. An unroadworthy rear tyre being the culprit which needed to be changed as it had come away from the rim. The petrol station on the A5 in Flamstead where the ensuing tyre drama took place did very good business from 50 unexpected customers stocking up on drinks and snacks. At the time we were due to arrive we hadn’t even crawled along the congested and very wet M25 past Heathrow.
And to add insult to injury the coach had left the depot with a toilet that didn’t flush, no toilet paper and no running water. This was definitely a trip that Bear Grylls would have been proud of us for surviving.
Five hours later we arrived at the picturesque setting for the match. Just a few miles along the coast from Brighton, Peacehaven has a thriving Step 5 football team. The sea was a stone’s throw away and the South Downs hills make this a really lovely non-league ground.
The welcome and hospitality we received was just how we hope to look after visitors.
Inclement weather conditions didn’t spoil a highly entertaining game, which eventually kicked off at well gone 4pm, between two evenly matched teams on a very well-kept pitch.
Danny Webb so nearly got a brace in the first 45 minutes but the sides went in at half time all square.
We all thought Danny had given us the lead early in the second half when he lobbed the keeper only for the linesman’s flag to rule it out for offside. Ethan Creary somehow managed to hook one off the line to keep out the home side, who went ahead on 72 minutes with a well worked goal.
The Blues didn’t give up and deservedly were on equal terms with just three minutes left on the clock when Isaac Olaleye drove home from inside the box following good work from A Trialist who did excellently to beat his man down the left hand side and power his way to the line and then to cut the ball back for Isaac to score his second goal for the Blues.
Cue scenes of jubilation from the travelling fans although they were unfortunately cut short just five minutes later when Peacehaven scored a very late winner.
Our thanks to Peacehaven & Telscombe for being excellent hosts and to Richard Irving & Nick Duckettt from the FSA for organising the match.
I’m very pleased to let you know that the return home was plain sailing with a stop for some fish and chips and a scenic detour along the coast road to Brighton which had spectacular scenery.
Less than 48 hours earlier the Blues had come out 2 –1 victors over local Step 4 neighbours, Barton Rovers on ATP1. Joe Deeney spoke to the Talk of the Town podcast and expressed his pleasure at his players’ performance, discipline and attitude. Goals from Harry Beaumont & Kelvin Osei-Addo, who later limped off the field carrying an injury, enough to put smiles on the faces of supporters who, like all of us have had withdrawal symptoms from the lack of football in three long months.
On the 11th July, the Blues kicked off their pre-season schedule with the second Aaron Bateman Memorial Shield against our friends at Hertford Town. Hertford manager, Ben Herd, is a family friend of Ian & Charlotte and has been instrumental in arranging this annual fixture to commemorate the life of a truly outstanding young man. Like his dad, Aaron was a true blue and although he’s sadly no longer with us, he remains in our hearts and in our thoughts every single day. He would have been proud of the way his heroes played on the evening, again against Step 4 opponents, and on Herford’s all-weather pitch. There was very little to differentiate the two sides and on another day, the Blues may have nicked it in ordinary time.
Another closely competed match ended 0 –0 at full time, with Hertford claiming the silverware for the next 12 months with a penalties decided shoot out.
Pre-season continues with the visit of a Barnet X1 to Creasey Park on Tuesday 25th July. Kick off is 7.45 pm. On Saturday 29th July the Blues entertain Risborough Rangers in the final pre-season game at Creasey Park. Kick off is 3 pm. For Both matches, Admission for Adults is £5 and Concessions £3.
The League season kicks off we believe on Wednesday 2nd August with the visit of Aylesbury Vale Dynamoes to Creasey Park. We are still waiting for League confirmation that Wednesday is indeed the correct date as we normally play mid-week games on Tuesdays. As soon as the League confirm details we shall inform you.
On Saturday 5th August we enter the Extra Preliminary Round of the Emirates FA Cup with an away tie 11 miles up the A5 to Bletchley where MK Irish have their home. If the tie finishes in a draw, there will be a replay at Creasey Park on Tuesday 8th August.