The Blues turned up at the Recreational ground in Bourne already knowing we were missing our keeper Warren but dealing with the late news that we would also be without the spine of our defence and midfield JJ and Maxim.

However there was some god news as top goalscorer last season Connor made a return to the team. Like a professional he is it was he that volunteered to go in goal for the 1st half.

Right from kick off you could see how much we missed the presence of both JJ and Maxim. Bourne’s team was made up of a lot of big physical players that at times overpowered us particularily in the midfield.

With heavy blusters of wind every couple of minutes both sides were up against the conditions. With goal kicks and corners flying all over the place and sometimes boomerang’ing back to the takers. So with no goalkeeper you can appreciate the task my players were asked to do playing in goal fro me in particular.

The first 12 minutes were fairly even really. Bourne with probably more possession than us but both sides tried to attack down the wings but with resulting crosses being eaten up by the winds.

Connor dealt with 3 early through balls that he dealt with like a pro, sprinting out and clearing any danger.

Our first attack came from Edgar, picking up the ball in the middle of the field he played a nice one two with Ari before surging down the left wing with Tyran supporting and overlapping. Edgar choosing to cleverly cut inside two defenders he found himself on the edge of the 6 yard box but on the angle. A lot of work needed to score from there but he very nearly did as Edgar opted to shoot high left footed which was pushed over the bar well by Bourne’s keeper.

Tyran was finding the conditions hard to get away down the wings and deliver anything solid to Josh and Ari. On the 13th minute and an attack by Bourne through the middle of the park where the majority of their attacks came through had Connor save brilliantly at the edge of the box. Pushing the ball around the post.

A minute later and Edgar managed to niggle his way through the physical midfield and have a good long range effort curl just narrowly wide of the top corner. 15th minute popped up and so did Bourne’s striker, picking the ball up in the centre again from a cleared header by Rahim on the half volley instantly smahed the ball from outsid the box into the roof of the net. Warren or any keeper would have been able to stop that even without the windy conditions.

Blues tried to reply instantly as Deshawn linked up well with Tyran down the left before attempting a long range shot from outside the box that went just wide.

A minute after this is what Tyran to have a pop from distance too however it was wide and low.

Bourne showed their strength again and at times were very confident with the ball and you could see their game plan was get the ball to their big striker who had a lot of pace but also could really hit the ball as we saw with his first goal.

Connor watched half a dozen efforts from the big striker and their midfield sail over the bar as the plan was to make the most of the windy conditions which was fair enough.

Just before half time Bourne attacked down the right and the low cross seemed to hit a few players on the way to their striker knocking the ball past Connor who got a hand to it but couldn’t stop it nestling in the corner.

Half time 2-0 and we changed over the keeper duties to Jack who also volunteered very professionally to have a go despite never playing in goal before.
A re-shuffle and change to a back three I felt we may aswell have a good go 2nd half as Connor was now playing outfield.

So that was exactly what we did and the first 5 minutes we gave it a real go. Instantly from kick off we pushed up as a back three and you could see a more attacking force. Immediately Blues got old of the ball and forced a corner by Alfie.

A minute later and a big moment. Edgar fed Josh who dropped deep to collect the ball almost on the half way line. Turning away from the defender he cleverly knocked the ball around the defender before sprinting on to the ball himself, Josh found himself getting away from the back line sprinting into the box with just the keeper to beat his effort was saved well low down to the left. A moment which in fairness if we had taken maybe just maybe at 2-1 you might have seen the confidence in both the sides switch. Who knows, in football anything happens but it was a great save and a chance completely manufactured all by himself Josh was really unlucky. The next 10 minutes were much the same as the first as Bourne pushed forward they tried to make the most of Jack being in goal by shooting from range. Jack making two decent saves and dealing with 2 corners well for a non keeper. He should be proud of his performance in goal.

47th minute and unfortunately a corner delivered high was picked up by the wind and Jack couldn’t quite keep the ball out. 3-0.

Couple of minutes later and Connor playing in attacking midfield was really having a good go when he could. It was really good to see his impact back in the team. Connor was chasing down defenders and their goalkeeper whenever he could and forcing mistakes in the back line a lot but the ball just wasn’t going our way and often muscled off by their defenders.

50th minute Connor won the ball again off a defender and dribbled his way to the edge of the box, playing a very clever one two with Alfie he got into the box and his effort from the angle was dealt with well by the Bourne keeper once again.
Bourne certainly werrnt making as many chances 2nd half and that was due to playing 3 at the back with Rahim,TJ and Evrian rotating with Flynn throughout. Blue’s had more of an attacking approach to the team due to this but this did sometimes leave us open whenever Bourne attacked with pace.

It was time for our third keeper change of the day for the last ten with Tyran taking his place between the sticks. Tyran was called upon pretty quickly dealing with two corners which his handling for on both were very good.

Tyran then saved well from a long shot from the edge of the box that deflected off of of him and on to the bar and fortunately back to him.

With 7 or so to go Bourne made the most of an uncleared ball in our defence outside the box which was once again finished from distance well giving Tyran and again any goalkeeper any chance.

The game came to a close. An up hill battle from the start but all things considered. No keeper(Warren), no centre back(Maxim)and no defencive midfilelder (JJ) plus very windy difficult conditions indeed it was always going to be so we should hold our heads up high. On another day I fell it would have been a much closer game.

Man Of the Match: Connor, Jack and Tyran. All did superb jobs in goal aswell as on field.