23 Sept. 2007 GroundHoppers 0 – Caribb 1

Hoppers went into this game on a high after their 2-1 victory against Peckham the previous week. Caribb confident about their season to come, were looking for their own revenge, as Hoppers sneaked a last minute victory in the semi-final of a cup competition last year. So this had the making of being a competitive encounter; the game wasn’t going to disappoint players and supporters.

Caribb, highly talented, young side, started confidently with their slick passing moves creating chances from the off set. But their long distance shots never really tested stand in goal keeper Barry Gadsdon. Hoppers had good possession of their own forcing Caribb to question their method of play. With the game swinging from end to end, chances falling to both sides, it was only a matter of time before someone was going to hit the back of the net. Caribb was to open the scoring, a ball played into the box, finding their centre forward, who turned his man and smashed the ball home. Hoppers weren’t to be out done, with good chances falling to Matthew Searle, Paul Hooley and the best falling to David Rose; Hoppers catching Caribb on the break down the left hand side, Matthew Searle in possession, played his defence splitting cross into the box, David Rose, calling for the ball, before his team mate Stephen Wright could upset the path of the ball; the equaliser looked on the cards, unfortunately David Rose managed to slice his shot high and wide.

This was to mark the way the game would pan out for Hoppers, creating chances but the ball not falling for them to convert. Hoppers also rode their luck at the back, apart from some brilliant last minute challenges, Caribb failed to take advantage of some sloppy defensive mistakes. Caribb were to run out 1-0 victors; on the balance of play they probably deserved; but Hoppers finished the game frustrated they didn’t convert any of their chances to ask questions of Caribb.

One sour note was the sending off of Johnstone Brown, whose heart and passion got the better of him, as he got sucked in by the Caribb winding up tactics.

TEAM: Gadsdon, Eames(Takan), Canfield, Bateman(Burgess), Patten, Huggins, Hooley, Rose, Brown, Wright, Searle(Kenneth) subs: Hinchion