The F&O Bench Comes To The Fore

​Once again a strong bench served F&O well with four experienced heads coming in for (bald), Bahrami, Beebee & Greenwood who all withdrew with an assortment of niggles and injuries.

The night also saw Lamprell once again embrace technology with his fancy dan Apple watch and app which tracked the time and goal scorers on yet another nail biter at BACA.

For once there was an early goal when Hunt's shot went straight through Curry for 1-0. With Dallinger and Ridley bickering like an old married couple it could have been a long night for Bibs as they struggled to get a foot hold in the match. 

Curry when back on pitch then went agonisingly close with the goal gaping like a 12 year old youth players arse hole at a Barry Bennell soccer trial.

As expected Brench was likely to be a key man for them tonight and much of their good early work went through him. He eventually wriggled free on 33 minutes and his shot via a small deflection, sped past Whitey in the Skins goal.

1-1 and game on. Both teams traded blows and the half ended evenly.

The second half proved to be a far more open affair as both teams went at it, looking to avoid the dreaded draw.

On 50 minutes a corner eluded Dallinger and Eason with a well guided face, got the ball over the line. Within seconds the game was back level when Green smashed a volley past Harley for 2-2.

The old war horse and fashion retailer had a glorious chance to put Skins back ahead when White squared to him, but his first time shot was sliced wide.

It looked like Skins would pay the ultimate price for this miss when Lamprell dropped his shoulder past Colin who and then drilled home past Wilson in goal. 3-2 and Bibs were looking good to see the game out as we went to the final goal keepers.

It really did look their night when Whitey hit the post. And then moments later Curry went through one on one with Eason but the big man kept up his run of good form between the sticks by saving well.

With only 7 minutes left Ridley committed a foul on Hunt (I think) and the resulting free kick was forced home for Baker's first F&O goal on his 13th cap. 3-3 and both teams were throwing bodies forward with Mitchell & Wilson playing as out and out strikers it seemed. The winner came with 3 minutes to go when White ran clear and finished past Brenchley.

Moments later Tricker had a glorious chance to end the contest but hit the post with a fierce drive.

Lamprell with the Apple Watch called time but Brenchley was in no mood to take this defeat. He started surging out of goal as some players stopped. he made it to halfway but must have run out of puff as he played in his mate Mitchell who had a chance to score his first goal since the days of dial up. Thankfully for Skins Eason saved and Whitey hacked clear, otherwise we may have had a huge controversy.

A highlight of the night for me was Colin trying to pay his subs in Euro's, much to Pete's disgust.

MOTM - Nik 'The Physio' Baker - it was lucky 13 for the top trumps top weight as he played with intelligence and poise and netted the crucial equaliser.