A ‘nine-goal thriller’ does not really do this match justice but then there are not many words or phrases that would! A ‘humdinger’ or maybe ‘extraordinary’ will probably have to suffice for now, but it was one of those games that if you were there – you’ll always remember it, and if you weren’t – you’ll wish you had been!
An eventful first-half saw the teams share six goals with City taking the lead three times but then being pegged back by their hosts every time. Then, in a busy second-half, City again took the lead but they still couldn’t shake Bexley off as they equalised once more before a dramatic ending saw them snatch a ninety-fourth minute winner to finally win the game 5-4.
There was a bit of nonsense at 4-4 too that some in the Bexley camp might want to reflect on – but more of that later!
To set the scene, City were already relegated with Bexley scrapping for every point to avoid going down with them. The visitors, having won the reverse fixture 2-1 back in October, were looking for what would be their only league double this season with just two other matches remaining, while the hosts were hoping to halt a run of three consecutive defeats which had left them nervously looking over their shoulders placed as they were in the last relegation-free position in the table before going in today’s game. The comparatively newly built Flamingo Sports Ground was looking good in places, while not quite so in others, but the pitch must have been like playing on the best quality Axminster and even the weather was playing ball – lovely blue skies, sunny and hot!
City started positively as a sort of half-hit shot from Teddy Weight bounced comfortably through to Bexley keeper Jack Perry while Brooklyn Blandford’s neat ball over the top saw Jack Lawrence just manoeuvred off the ball in the home box as he attempted to get his shot off. The hosts responded with a powerful effort from Andrew Musungu flying past the angle of the City goal from the edge of the box, before City then opened the scoring on eleven minutes. A lovely slide-rule pass from Teddy Weight split the Bexley defence allowing Oscar Weight to run through and stab the ball confidently past the advancing Perry for 1-0 – a very neat and well worked goal.
It took Bexley just a minute to respond though when a long throw launched in from the right by Jamie Keefe landed in the City box and saw a falling Sam Hookey hook the ball home from close range for 1-1.
A bit of a sickener for City having just taken the lead themselves but they bounced back and within five minutes they were ahead again and a super goal it was too. Lawrence battled his way down the left before playing the ball back to Jake Lemar near the corner of the Bexley box who looked up and hit a cracking lofted shot that looped over Perry and into the far corner of the net for 2-1.
With the lead restored, it was worryingly then surrendered again when Tom Gamblin bolted down the Bexley left before moving infield and in an unchecked and unchallenged arcing run that took him across the pitch and into the box, he fired a shot past debutant City keeper Harrison Duff, low and into the opposite corner for 2-2.
Not to worry though because on thirty-four minutes, City were back in front again, this time with an excellent team goal. The move was started well in his own half by Tyler Lee and his burst forward saw the ball worked down the left-hand side before eventually falling to Teddy Weight. He then fired a shot in from the edge of the box that caught us all out, but especially the keeper as it arrowed into the near-side of the net for 3-2 and another really good and well-built terrific strike.
Frustratingly – ‘back in front’ again only lasted a minute when a wide right free-kick was sent in from Musungu and simply headed home by Sam Ryan – with annoying ease from just a couple of yards out for 3-3.
That goal ended the scoring for the half, but Bexley finished strongly as Matt Maidment’s long shot flew well over the City bar and Ryan’s rather optimistic effort from near half-way quickly looked well off target and was always going wider. In the closing stages City also withstood a couple of Bexley corners and also one of Keefe’s long throw rockets right into the heart of their box, while for the visitors, Lee saw a low shot well pouched by Perry.
All square at the break then after an entertaining and enthralling first-half – four good goals and a couple that City will probably think they could have defended better to try to keep their leads intact for just a little bit longer at least!
When the teams emerged from the dressing-room for the restart, the referee was unfortunately unable to continue and replaced by one of the linesmen, while a member of the Bexley bench was then seconded as a replacement for him – so far so good!
The opening chance of the second-half quickly went to the hosts and they really should have scored. Musungu’s ball in from the left was well crafted and fell to Maidment but with the goal almost at his mercy – albeit with the ball arriving quickly, he side-footed badly off target when well placed. City responded soon after as Ronnie Gawler slewed a shot just wide from the edge of the box and then Taj Olivia latched onto a huge clearance from Duff but was denied by Perry who was smartly out to pull off a brave smothering save.
Bexley were through again just after but saw another chance go astray as Ned Kelly wastefully lobbed a miscued shot well over the City bar – again when handily placed. The visitors were then desperately unlucky not to regain the lead when a great move down the right heavily influenced by Olivia, saw his ball to the far post pick out Lawrence – who took aim, but could only thump the ball against the outside of the post – with Perry beaten and the ball pinging to safety, it was a lovely move that really deserved a goal!
City soon made up for that disappointment though, when just a couple of minutes later they did re-establish their lead. A piercing run through the inside-left channel from Oscar Weight saw him roll the ball across to Olivia who ran in and slotted the ball home with some aplomb for 4-3 and we were thankfully back to advantage City!
They were so close to going two in front shortly after as well when Teddy Weight won the ball before sending a great diagonal pass out to Olivia, he then raced through down the right before setting up Weight who had continued his run but he couldn’t keep his hurried effort down and it flew just over the Bexley bar. The hosts could then have levelled again when the second of a brace of corners was flung back into the City box and a bit of a free-for-all – with the ball headed one way and then another and players grappling for space and for a clear sight of goal, ended with Duff making an excellent save – pawing out the ball from under his own bar while surrounded and swamped by bustling and jostling players from both sides.
On sixty-six minutes however, the match was then back to all-square when Bexley’s Musungu received the ball on the right edge of the City box before finding some space with a few steps to his left before powering home an unstoppable rocket past the flailing Duff for 4-4 and another very good strike.
The game was now their for the taking by either side and although there was some disgruntled shout from the Bexley bench that the team on the pitch seemed to be settling for a point, it never really felt or looked that way. The next chance did fall to City though, when Arron Barker’s superbly timed ball had Dan Ikem clean through – but just as he prepared to shoot, he was denied by a brilliantly timed defensive tackle by Hookey – that almost certainly saved his side a goal.
Chances were piling in at both ends as Musungu’s effort rolled wide, before he did well to chase down a big clearance before again shooting wide. Harry Linford then almost finished a super City move from the back but he could only knock the ball the wrong side of the post as he charged in to get on the end of Olivia’s cross, before Oscar Weight miscued an effort past the post and Olivia had an effort charged down.
Pressure was coming from the hosts too as City survived another couple of Keefe’s massive throws and Ryan was denied by a City block in the box. The visitors then made another attacking move down the right with Olivia again leading the proceedings and he did well to pick out Barker but his ferocious shot was bravely deflected up and over the bar by Ryan now back in his more familiar defensive position.
City were looking the more dangerous to snatch a winner though as Olivia fired wide from twenty-five yards before another sparkling move down the right was eventually smuggled home from close quarters by City only to be denied by an offside flag! Bexley hurriedly moved the ball forward and from what looked like a clear offside position and heading for goal, their forward was flagged by their own replacement linesman. The grief and criticism he had fired at him from his own team for doing so was fairly dreadful, if your going to ask a colleague to unexpectedly run the line, at least allow him to do it honestly and as he sees it – we’ll leave that at that!
Next opening fell City’s way though when a thirty-yard free-kick was fired in by Harry Uttley with Perry diving to push the ball out but Olivia following in, was unable to force the loose ball home. Another Bexley long-throw was flicked on but safely gathered by Duff but it was still City looking the more likely to score.
Barker had a shot saved, before a lovely move deserved a better ending as they sliced through the Bexley lines but saw the ball cleared as they tried to just find the perfect angle to set up a strike. City kept coming forward though and were finally rewarded in the ninety-fourth minute when a Jacob Couzens ball found Olivia well placed but his shot was saved by Perry and just as you thought the chance was gone, Oscar Weight won the ball back and rolled it across to Uttley who smashed the ball home from just inside the box and beyond Perry’s despairing dive for 5-4 and understandable celebration on and off the pitch and in the stand among the City players, staff and faithful who had made the trip.
With only seconds left, there was still time for Musunga to have an effort charged down and cleared, before another long-throw was hurled in and laid back to Ryan only for him to wallop the ball well over the City bar from the edge of the box just as the final whistle sounded.
Credit to both sides for such an absorbing game especially in such hot and stifling conditions, but it was an absolutely superb win for City, who on the day, probably played some of their best free-flowing attacking football of the whole season so far, which was frankly brilliant to watch – especially after such an embattled time following the Club around over the last eight months or so – a lovely sunny day, some excellent goals and a ninety-fourth minute winner for your team! What more could you want – great stuff!!
Final score: Bexley FC 4 Canterbury City 5.