STARTING LINE-UP

GK - Dave Newman

RB - James Girkin

CB - Kabba Stevens

CB - Drew Girkin

LB - Ben Avery

RCM - Russell Nelson

CM - Jon Girkin

LCM - Graham Street

RCF - Simon Levi

ST - Gareth Waterhouse

LCF - Warren Thomas

 SUBS - Paul Street

SUBS - Ken Girkin

 

 

On a day that starts so nicely with such glorious sunshine perhaps it should have been an omen that things weren’t going to get any better for Escape, in their opening home fixture.

The opponents who would face a buoyant escape team were that of Nomads FC. Little was known about the opposition by any of the escape personnel, so preparation was always going to be difficult, and as a famous philosopher once said fail to prepare, prepare to fail,  that saying would certainly come back to haunt Escape.

Escape won the toss and elected to kick off, with an emphasis on pressuring nomads into making mistakes. The first 10 minutes of the game went by without any real threat posed from either side, it wasn't until a lofted pass was glanced into the path of Gareth Waterhouse, by Warren Thomas who leapt like a cat, to win the header, giving Waterhouse a chance to make it 1-0 which he duly took in a one on one with the nomads keeper, with little of the goal to aim for, he clinically stroked the ball around the keeper and into the back of the net.

Escape attempted to capitalise on the lead but rarely threatened except for a few long range efforts from Warren Thomas and Simon Levi. Graham street managed to break free of a defender, only to see his header glance just wide of the post.

Nomads, sensing that their luck might be in began to threaten, with a succession of corners, many felt it would only be a matter of time before nomads levelled the score, and that came 10 minutes before the end of the half when a nomads striker managed to get free from the escape defence and get a hard low shot in which left David Newman with no chance, which left the score balanced at 1 a piece.

Many escape players fancied their chances going into this game, with many expecting 3 or 4 goals, but they seemed to be shocked by the pace and directness of nomads attacking play. The referee bought close the half, and the players retreated to the sidelines for some words of wisdom from coach ken Girkin.

The second half started  and it wasn't long before nomads went ahead to make the score 2-1, this would have on a different day perhaps given escape the kick up the backside that they obviously needed, but unfortunately it wasn't long before things went from bad to worse, as nomads made it 3-1 with 25 minutes remaining.

For all the endeavour and driving forward led from the back by Kabba Stevens, there was little end product, and it was from a somewhat fortunate penalty decision that gave escape a lifeline with 20 minutes left. The referee blew for a handball in nomads 18 yard box, which could mean only one thing, a penalty to escape and a chance to make it 3-2, Gareth Waterhouse stepped up and cooly placed the ball in the net, sending the keeper the wrong way in the process.

The onslaught on the nomads goal as escape looked for their equaliser never materialised with attacks breaking down all over the place, the best chance fell to warren Thomas who expertly broke clear of the nomad defence only to see his shot go agonisingly over the crossbar.

As the referee blew for full time, escape went home knowing that if they are to achieve anything in this league then they have to work hard and play well on a consistent basis and to take each game as it comes.

 

 

Escape FC Man Of The Match: Gareth Waterhouse - Excellent display from the front man again. Another 2 goals to his name and in impeccable form.

Escape FC Donkey Of The Match: Drew Girkin – Gifted the opposition their 2nd goal.