5th Win on the Bounce vs Finchampstead

The Bisons maintained their impressive league run with a fifth win on the bounce beating Finchampstead 4-1 after a keenly fought contest on a difficult playing surface. With many games postponed the referee surprisingly allowed the game to go ahead, commenting "this is not the Premier League and just perfect for Sunday League football". With the bottom goal mouth resembling the battlefields of the Somme this was never going to be a match of great quality but to their credit both sides gave it a good go.

An early corner had Ben raising his right hand, which meant we could all expect an inswinging strike just under the bar with pace. Ben struck it perfectly and with the keeper flapping under pressure from the Bison’s forwards the ball sailed directly in to the far corner of the net. The goal was even more remarkable given that Ben’s sole on his boot was flapping at it was detached at the toe ! This was another effort straight from the training ground! With both sides struggling to find a rhythm the Bisons forced another corner, this time on the far side. With Kiran in the ball he found Harvey with a short pass having come off the post (again from the training ground). Harvey then passed the ball back to Kiran who had come off the corner to give a better angle for the cross and when this arrived in the box Elliott was there to majestically rise and head the ball back across goal into the far corner.

Finchampstead were asking few questions as the Bisons were holding and moving the ball better but they were dangerous with their one clear tactic - the long throw. On one such occasion the throw was met by the on rushing forward but his header went just wide. Back to the other end and Dylan tried his luck direct from a free kick but his effort rebounded off the wall to Ben who absolutely hammered it with his now borrowed boots and his effort only just missed the target.

There then followed a passage of play where the Bisons had a number of good chances with Duncan and Owen both seeing efforts well saved by the keeper although in one case he didn't really know much about it ! Another Ben corner was nearly on the money but the defence just managed to clear the loose ball.

With time running out in the first half Finchampstead got a goal back in bizarre circumstances. As the ball was played through and slowing down in the mud Harry chose the best option to rush out and clear upfield. Unfortunately his kick caught Elliot full in the face and the ball sailed back over Harry’s head towards the goal where it stuck in the mud allowing the striker to race through and knock the ball over the line. That was the last we saw of the dazed Elliot who had been playing really well at the back alongside Jack in the absence of Ravi.

Goalkeeper Harry 'Stuck in the Mud' taken by Perchard's Photography

The Bisons were pressing well and the two goal advantage was soon restored when Duncan found Kiran on the right who then crossed back for Duncan whose lay back to Jamie was thumped into the back of the net just as he was losing his footing in the mud. A fourth goal nearly came when some neat play found Owen but he was unable to convert the opportunity. However, not long after the points were secured as the ever willing Duncan chased a through ball and was clattered by the defender giving the referee no option than to point to the spot not that anybody could see it beneath the mud. Duncan, as he did in the game before Christmas, stepped up and blasted the ball past the helpless keeper.

With the game one the Bisons were finding more and more space, particularly on the wings and this stretched the defence to create gaps in the centre but despite some good efforts on goal a combination of mud and keeper kept the ball out. Harvey, Owen twice, Jamie and Kiran all had chances. The final play summed up the pitch as Jamie found Kyifer on the right who delivered a delicious cross that was falling nicely for the incoming Joe from the left but as it hit the ground it just stopped in the mud allowing the keeper to simply pick it up !

4-1 was a well deserved win in difficult conditions and again credit to both sides for putting on a display that was enjoyable to watch in true Sunday League style that was actually a throw back to the 1970s when league pitches weren’t that much better !