Brooklands grab 3 points in thrilling comeback win

Brooklands grab 3 points in thrilling comeback win

After a defeat in the opening game of the season the Georges road side where out to right all wrongs that had happened in the previous week. Brooklands had a chance to stamp their authority on home turf against an East Grinstead side who boasted multiple GB & England players.

The side had one change from the previous week with Magic Mark Bateman and Paul Gannon calling on youngster Tom Russell who would replace the injured Pete Cornell. The Heinz Ketchup specialist would be pivotal in creating chances for the Manchester side.

The game started at a fast and frantic pace with EG providing most of the pressure on the Brooklands defence. Back against the ropes stuff meant a series of out letting errors presented EG forwards with half a chance. A speculative shot, a miss trap and the ball was in the back of the net, beating a diving Chris Scott. 1-0 down. The game was a feisty affair with the bigger stature of the Brooklands men dominating their opposition. However the lads didn't capitalise on this and a corner was conceded. A straight flick wrong footed the 'big rig' Scotty. 2-0 down, was this a sign of things to come...

Not today, Brooklands took the game by the scruff of the neck and decided to play with dominance and grit. Nice play between the ever reliable Oliver Clarke and David Flanagan, forced a corner with the help of power forward Richard Slater making himself a nuisance amongst the EG defence. The flick came from new flicker Andy KO Jackson and was saved by the outstretched toe of the goal keeper. Moments later another corner was won, meaning Bolton's finest bobbler Peter Flanagan, stepped up to flick. He fired home low and to the left. 2-1 and a cry of "GAME ON".

This was the push Brooklands needed, first goal of the season and it wasn't to be the games last. Chances started to open up for Brooklands and the EG goal keeper had to keep his whits about him. After a through ball by David Flanagan pierced the EG defence it was left to Tommy "Ketchup" Russell to fire a shot towards goal, the shot was saved but the young forward was showing his hunger for goals.

With a full pre season under his belt and representative honours to his name, James Sutcliffe is becoming a real asset to this new look Brooklands team. Floating down the left hand side he breezed past 2 defenders, drew the keeper off his line and gave a back hand pass to the perfect positioned David Flanagan to flick the ball into a gaping net. Big cheers from the sideline and the game was even. 2-2 going into the break. Momentum was with home side.

The second half approached and both the captain and coaching staff asked for an extra gear from the lads. They didn't disappoint. The forwards had been difficult to cope with all game. They couldn't cope with the skill of Aidan Khares and import Brynn Cleak. They also struggled to keep up with pace of Sam Perrin. All 3 creating chance after chance. Sam 'the Mule' Perrin forced multiple corners and Aidan Khares used his weight and skill to link well with the advancing midfield. One noticeable chance that was created came after some nice play down the left hand side. Khares produced a pass out of nowhere that found its way to David Flanagan who could't quite get his shot on target. Things had started to look promising.

Deep into the the second half and it took one of the youngest players on the pitchi, Tom Russell to take the game by the scruff of the neck and produce a pinpoint cross that was turned home by David Flanagan for his second of the match. Now in the lead after going 2 goals behind it was Brooklands in the ascendancy. 3-2 up, que two minutes of mayhem. EG reacted quickly with a speculative ball into the D. Goal scorer, now defender, Flanagan attempted to intercept the prospective ball however it fell to a second EG forward who slotted home. The Brooklands of last week would have crumbled and heads would have gone down but this week a steely mindset meant the boys got the ball back on the spot and went back on the attack. Richard Slater producing some worldie skill that even he himself was surprised by, created a chance that fell to our left half, Andy KO Jackson. With the ball bobbling through to the penalty spot from a Slater pass, AJ hit the ball on the half volley high into the top left Corner. 3 goals in 3 minutes, 4-3 up and scenes of jubilation for AJ's 1st Brooklands goal and potentially Brooklands first win of the season. The

With seconds left the ball was in the EG half and the final whistle went. 3 points on the board and Brooklands were off the mark.

Next week the lads take a trip down to Canterbury to repeat the same result as last year.

Game on.