FIVE WINS FROM FIVE

The 5s went into Gameweek 5 as the early front-runners in AFC Division 5 South and were determined to keep up their winning record with the visit of Reigatians to Richardson Evans Memorial Playing Fields. Borough were aware that fourth-placed Reigate were likely to pose a slightly tougher challenge than previous weeks, having beaten teams mostly in the lower half of the league thus far.

The hot topic in the lead up to game day was the news that ‘Tier 2’ restrictions would be imposed on Saturday, ruining the hard work of Social Secretary David Agostini who had successfully booked two tables of 6 at the Duchess Belle in Battersea for the now customary post-match drinks.

In team news, despite keeping a clean sheet in the impressive win over Dorkinians the previous week, Boro were pleased to see the return of goalkeeper Andy Strachan between the sticks, allowing Captain Tom Gannon to join Agostini and Mark Hinkins in an enviable three-man central midfield. The only other change saw, Jamie McNicholas replace 5s' stalwart Jack Cooper. This was ‘winger’ McNicholas’ first start in his favoured position of central defence having begun the season as a converted left-winger at the insistence of self- titled ‘Head of Recruitment’ Duncan Mackenzie.

Borough kicked off and had the better of the early exchanges, comfortably settling into their new look 4-3-3 formation. The front three were pushing the Reigate defence back, and as a result the Borough full-backs and midfield were enjoying plenty of possession.

Ten minutes in, after some smart passing down the left side between Dom Szablowski and Joe Charsley, the ball reached the feet of Seamus Brennan who was enjoying the freedom of playing in a front three. Brennan turned away from his marker and beat another Reigate defender being playing a deep cross into the area towards the unmarked Mark Pringle. Pringle was in acres of space and unleashed a first-time right-footed volley into the bottom corner of the net from 15 yards out to make it one-nil, for what is arguably the 5s' Goal of the Season so far.

Pringle was involved again as Borough doubled their five minutes later. His deep cross was headed into the top corner of their own net by one of the Reigate defenders in what would have been a stunning header had it been at the right end.

At this point, Borough were in total control, so much so that if Opta were keeping possession stats in Division 5 South, they would have shown roughly 80% possession in Borough’s favour and at least six ‘Expected Goals’ in the first 20 minutes. Unfortunately, the Reigate ‘keeper was in fine form, and was single-handedly keeping Reigate in the game, with top quality saves at the expense of the Borough front three. The pick of these was a full-length stop, tipping the ball round the post to deny Pringle his second of the game.

From the resulting corner, there was the first flashpoint of the game. A whipped corner was met by a Reigate defender and headed clear. The loose ball was picked up by a Reigate winger, who looked to turn on the ball and launch a counter-attack. His progress was cut short, as he was brushed off the ball by Agostini – the type of clever foul that all the great teams make in dangerous situations. Unsurprisingly, the Reigatians didn’t see it that way, and were incensed, with Jonjo Shelvey’s twin making a beeline to remonstrate with Agostini.

The referee dealt with it well and awarded a free-kick to Reigate, which was predictably hit long towards their lone-forward who had been anonymous for most of the first half thanks to some excellent defending by both McNicholas and Jack Tecwyn.

With half an hour gone, Reigate pulled one back totally against the run of play. Borough conceded a cheap foul thirty yards from goal for a push in the back, and from the resulting free-kick, the ball was crossed in and met by an unmarked Reigate head to make it 2-1.

Borough continued to dominate the rest of the first half, without making a further breakthrough, and despite all the possession, went in at half-time with a slender advantage.

After the break, the early part of the second half was a fairly scrappy affair, with both teams conscious of the importance of the next goal. The Borough central midfield were winning every first and second ball, so much so that the Reigate defence were totally bypassing their midfield and pumping the ball long to their target-man, who was having a running battle with the Borough centre-back pairing.

Tackles were flying in all over the pitch and after a series of fouls from both teams, the referee pulled both Captains aside and firmly made them aware that names would start going in the book. Less than thirty seconds later, Agostini was first to a loose ball in midfield, and as he looked to spread the ball wide, was chopped down by a Reigate midfielder. True to his word, the referee brandished a yellow card to the unfortunate Reigatian, who had only moments earlier been brought on a substitute.
With an hour gone, Borough made a few changes, reverting back to the 4-3-3 that they started the game with. They began to re-assert their dominance on the game, enjoying plenty of possession and coming forward with regularity looking to extend their lead. The breakthrough came with fifteen minutes to go; Brennan took a short free-kick on the left- hand side and played a one-two with Szablowski before delivering a pin-point cross for substitute Tom Rozycki to head the ball home from two yards out, for his third of the season.

Borough comfortably closed out the last few minutes, to maintain their 100% start to the season. Results elsewhere went in Borough’s favour with, second-placed Old Paulines dropping points against Dorkinians, leaving Boro two points clear at the top of the table with a goal difference of +17.

With this, thoughts moved immediately to the tantalising top-of-the-table clash next week away at Old Paulines - and a quick search online to see whether Thames Ditton is under Tier 2 restrictions, or if post-match beers (or Zinfandel) will be permitted.

Man-of-the-match was a close contest between Hinkins and McNicholas, with McNicholas deservedly taking the accolade, and Tom ‘Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen’ Rozycki was unanimously selected as the inaugural recipient of ‘Dick of the Day’ for the 20/21 season, partly due to an aborted attempt at an overhead kick on the halfway line when under absolutely no pressure at all, and partly for the unusual decision to wear a ‘questionable’ scarf to post-match drinks.

Roll on Gameweek 6....