Fixture: Broadhall Tigers V Arlesey Town
Date: Sunday 13th Sept 2009, 10.30 KO
Venue Canterbury Way
Referee A Hinde
Captain Keiran L

The start of the new season was on us at a very optimistic
Broadhall Team were rearing to go.
Today we faced a very good Arlesey Town team and hopefully this will give us a benchmark for the coming campaign.

Kick Off saw Arlesey Town go straight on the attack and force a corner on 30 seconds. From the resulting kick and greatly helped by the wind we conceded an own goal on 52 seconds. We then sustained 15 minutes of intense pressure but gradually managed to get a foothold in the game. As was expected every ball was keenly contested with both teams giving their all and the bulk of the play was in the center of the pitch.
Midway through the half we started to play some beautiful football with Dominic and Rhys linking up with some great one touch football
down the right wing which Arlesey had trouble containing. Once Marcus came into the game on the left we were in full flow going forward. We had several chances to even the score line as the half came to an end but due to some good defending and goal keeping we went in at 0:1 to Arlesey.

The Second half the Tigers continued where they had left off and started to apply more pressure on the Arlesey goal. This pressure increased as the game wore on and the Tigers got their equaliser in the 54th minute. Marcus fizzed a terrific pass across the penalty area from the left for Bradley to pop up in the penalty area unmarked and put the ball past the keeper from close range.
Again the game opened up with both teams having chances to win the match. As the game wore on it was noticeable that the Tigers had got their second wind and 4 minutes from time we thought we had won a penalty for a push on Marcus by an Arlesey defender in the penalty area but nothing was given.
The game finished 1:1 at the final whistle and upon reflection I feel this was a fair result.

No Man of the Match today as the whole team was superb with all the boys playing their part:

Paul in goal never put a foot wrong,
Kieran L / Ryan / Charlie and Alex B where solid in defence.
Marcus / Alex T / Lain / Rhys and Bradley did everything I expected of our midfield going forward and tracking back when required.
Dominic and Keiran K M ran their socks off leading the line and were very unlucky not to have a couple of goals between them.

P McKenna