The task of rounding up a team proved harder than expected as we only had 11 right up until the time we were due to meet up at the train station.
Liam, fresh from his trip to Sunderland added a twelfth name to the Team Sheet and we were off to face the Royak Oak at Bordon Rec.
Chawton had played superbly well in the second half of their previous meeting with the Royal Oak, keeping a clean sheet and holding Oak to 3-0, and more of the same was in the forefront of the Athletic players as we made the short trip over to Bordon.
That confidence was soon shatter as late arrivals meant that Athletic started the game with just ten men, and by the time Rich E and Ben had arrived the damage was already done with Oak racing into an early 3-0 lead. Jimmer had taken Matt's place in goal, the original idea was to have Matt start from the bench and make an appearance late in the second half, but the shortage meant he was pushed into the action from the start.
Oak are a physical side and Athletic never really came to terms with that, the early exchanges saw Athletic bossed from the ball sometimes illegally but with far too much regularity to gain a foothold on the game. Oak's fluent and organised football had the Athletic midfield stretched even after Rich had joined the fray. Athletic were at sixes and sevens as wave after wave of Oak attack cut mercilessly through a labouring Athletic side. Matt and Liam tried in vain to start the closing from the front, but Matt's fitness which had originally been the reason from his Goal keeping position and also why he was due to start on the bench, really offered the Athletic midfield scant protection.
Athletic occasionally broke away but lack of numbers and or the odd nudge off the ball by the robust Oak midfield meant the attacks broke back down.
Oak continued to stride confidently forwards and it was mostly poor finishing and poor fortune that saw Oak go in at half time 4-0 up, having hit the post twice and the crossbar once.
It did not take long for Oak to extend their lead in the second half, again swift pass and move football saw the Athletic side helpless.
Matt went off and allowed Ben to take up an unfamiliar role on the left hand side of the midfield, and despite Athletic's best efforts and some great saves from Jimmer, the goals kept going in.
The referee, who coincidentally was the secretary of the Royal Oak lol, had a decent game, was quick to jump on any ill discipline and swearing, but again could have done more to protect the Athletic side in the tackle, who were really struggling to gain a grip in midfield.
Athletic were certain they had scored when John chased a back pass down and did well to block the Oak Keepers kick, the ball ricocheted over the keeper and more than likely over the line before being cleared the referee was not in a position to see clearly and the linesman signalled that ball had not crossed the line.
A shame and would probably have been fair as Athletic at least kept trying right to the end of the 55 minute second half.
So the game ended 10-0 and probably could and should have been a lot more. Matt will resume his keeping duties for the next fixture with Jimmer returning to the field.
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