Saffron Walden (7) -0 The Brentwood Academy – 8

The Academy set up with an unusual 4-4-3 formation. Even saying out loud didn’t make sense. That doesn’t add up surely. With a very limited supply of goal keepers available the Academy went sans goal keeper the captain deciding that the battle of finding 11 outfield players was preferable to that of locating a goal keeper. So 11 hardy outfielders travelled up to the beautiful and picturesque market town of Saffron Walden. Pity the game was played in the rather desolate and exposed County High School but we can’t have it all.

Overall the decision proved to be the right one as the Academy took control from very early on and to be honest never really let up. Right from the first whistle we looked to have the greater sense of urgency and better movement, passing was crisp (on a difficult surface). The most important goal is of course the first one, the scene setter, the enforcer the tone setter. The captain who had rather cunningly selected himself at left back planning a quiet day after specific instructions from his wife stating that under no circumstances as he to put his back at risk – ‘I don’t care how many players you do or don’t have don’t you dare come back here with a bad back. If you feel a twinge take yourself off,’ broke at speed onto a deflected ball in the middle of the pitch, drove hard into the box and displaying none of the symptoms that made his participation in this match a doubt hit a strike that finished ‘top bins,’ as the youth like to say. Whether it flew straight in said ‘bins’ or took a route off sticks and goal-keepers equipment is open to conjecture at this point. Yes Saffron Walden you may well have a trip advisor score of 4.5, greater then any other Essex Town and Shanes236 might well have described you as:

“It seemed like every corner we turned,there was something of interest. Beautiful little independent shops frequent the shopping area as well as main stream shopping too....plenty of excellent little cafes and tearooms are in and around this pretty little market town which also has a ruined castle a short walk from the town centre. Parking is available on the outskirts of the town,a 300 metre flat walk to the high street and is free on Sundays. We were very impressed with the town which had many interesting buildings. A lovely way to spend a morning,”

but you are 1-0 down and that is the real winner here.

There was certainly no resting on our lead. The Academy kept going and the goals followed. The youth players in the team had the opportunity to express themselves and took it marvellously. Harvey Ashton playing between the lines, Toby Minor adding the ability to join in and support attacks, Lucas Sanchez battling and Shae Nelder working tirelessly all game. All four showed defensive skills when they were required, picked out the right passes, most of the time and displayed good skills that will hopefully build confidence going into the second half of the season.

We were 3-0 up at half time. But without a keeper I didn’t feel fully safe. Next goal still felt important as they could get goals quickly if things turned. Safe to say we did.

The goals were a good mix. Ian Forbes, and Alistair Scott on the scoresheet. Stephen Brown with four of them. All excellent finishes and putting him up into double figures for the season. Clear targets for 2020 for him. But the final word on the match goes to Shae Nelder who scored the best goal (not the most important, remember we’ve already agreed that one, that was the first one – keep up). Picking up the ball around halfway, left hand side, from an Iain Wilson pass (who gets the assist) Shae drove diagonally towards the top of the ‘D’ beating a couple of defenders in the process, when at the top of the D hit a shot across low to the Keepers right into the bottom corner, fantastic bit of play.

Thankfully all 11 men who started made it through with zero injuries to report.

Team: Gary MacDonnell, Chris Ross, Iain Wilson, Toby Minor, Ian Forbes, Shae Nelder, Chris Minor, Harvey Ashton, Stephen Brown, Alistair Scott, Lucas Sanchez.

Man of the Match: Harvey Ashton

That however wasn’t the end of matters. Saffron Walden had a treat in store for us. Full on Christmas dinner. Fair play to the club to get a plateful of such Christmas joy out. Unexpected and welcome. Next year I’m demanding to play the Saffron Walden fixture before Christmas and I’m bringing my entire family.