Despite a promising start, the Town fall short as Team Solent hit us for 3.
On the back of 2 games postponed, Bishops Waltham finally got their chance to play against Team Solent. This game saw the return of the defensive back four of Hodder, Cooper, Leather and Blandchard. Manager Colin Plumhoff decided to go for a 4-5-1 in effort to rip open the Team Solent defence/midfield and in the 1st half that’s what the Town did.
First Half:
As the game started, Bishops Waltham put the Team Solent defence under much pressure coming close on a couple occasions and had the ball cleared off the line twice. The defence worked hard as they snuffed out attacks with ease and dealt with corners well.
Then came the turning point, a weak pass gave away procession on the edge of the 18 yard box and the ball was crossed in and headed into the net past the diving Bishops Waltham Keeper, Adam Faulkner. Bishops Waltham never really recovered from this but continued to pressure the Team Solent defence until the half time interval.
Second Half: 0-1
The second half began, and Bishops Waltham were put on the back foot. The BWTFC Keeper and Defence were far busier in this half than the 1st. A pivotal moment in the 2nd half was Alan Cooper colliding with Keeper Adam Faulkner (whilst putting in a goal saving tackle) leaving the stopper with a head injury. He carried on but was not at his best as he had a hand in the 2 other Team Solent goals.
Back pass from Ashley Baddams to Adam Faulkner was not dealt with and after a lot of other indecision from the BWTFC defence, the ball was put into the net. Slip from a ground goal kick from Adam Faulkner meant the ball fell way short of the half way line, ball was picked up and passed into the path of the Team Solent sticker and his shot found its way into the back of the net from 12 yards out.
The game finished 3-0 but once again if we had scored in the 1st Half, the outcome of the game could have been different.
Full Time: 0-3
The Bishops Waltham Town 1st Team, have not played at home since September and are looking forward to our home league tie against Sporting BTC on the 9th February 2008.
