ANOTHER AWAY DAY TO FORGET

After a few days of heavy rain, speculation was rife in the Mighty 3s group that the impending match against Mickleham Old Boxhillians would be called off. Alas, the long summer break had given the pitches a bit more respite than usual and the Borough team took the long journey down to deep Surrey. After a disappointing defeat against Old Guildfordians, the team were eager to right the wrongs of the week before and spirits were high when the team emerged on to a beautiful isolated pitch. It really was very picturesque, the sun was shining with the Surrey hills a glorious backdrop – a great day for football. Sadly for the 3s, this was as good as the day got.

After a brief warm-up, the 3s set out their stall in a 3-5-2 formation, hoping to replicate the success of a fortnight prior. What followed was a promising start with Jamie and Billy linking up well up top, with Macca and Jamie offering width down either flank. A couple of intricate passes led to a Billy shot which was punched away by the Dorking keeper and a neat couple of moves involving Will Purdue led to a few half chances which Mickleham managed to deal with. The Borough though were left to rue these missed chances as Mickleham home advantage swiftly became apparent. After a goalmouth scramble leading to a one-nil deficit, heads went down and one swiftly became two, became three, became four…became five. A 10-minute meltdown meant the initial hard work was punished. After a stern telling off from the skipper at half time, hairdryer on level 10, the 3s headed out for the second half rejuvenated and looking to fight for pride – with a switch to a 4-5-1 formation.

Structure and discipline was the order of the day in the second half and so it showed with the scores remaining level for the majority of the half. Bench held the midfield together well with the returning Ali coming more and more into the game. After a much more spirited display, a swift Mickleham counter in the last 10 minutes led to the final nail in the coffin. Not what the second-half performance deserved and overall a scoreline that did flatter Mickleham somewhat.

Not the best performance, but we’ll pick ourselves up and go again. Another tricky away day, this time to Woking. The place where a geezer called Joey Cozens-Smith made his Wandsworth Borough debut some nine years ago. Clearly an occasion he hasn’t forgotten. Just hope the Mickleham defeat doesn’t linger as long in the memory.