Debden Sports 3 Global 3

Pre Season Friendly, Sunday 9th August 2020

Pre-Season number five saw me over a Debden Sports Club for a battle between two Essex Sunday Combination sides as Debden Sports took on Global in very warm conditions in Debden.

Surprisingly this was my first ever visit to the Sports Ground and it’s got an old wooden club house but it has a nice bar inside and facilities to make tea, coffee etc, so that’s more than most Sunday teams can offer.

And my good mate Martin Brazier, or Mart as we know him, who is joint manager with his son Callum of Debden Sports of course, ,made me a nice cuppa on arrival and gave me a bottle of water too, and his wife known as Mrs B had made me two rounds of sandwiches and some sausage rolls, so this was very well received  by myself and very much appreciated too, you can’t beat that sort of hospitality and kindness so that was lovely.

Sports were taking on Global who are arguably the best side in the Sunday Combination and were seven points clear at the top of the Senior Division when the season was cut short last campaign, winning ten of their thirteen games, whilst Debden had ended the season fifth out of eight in Division One, having won two, drawn five and lost only one of their eight leagues games last campaign.  Had they won both their games in hand on leaders Hillford though they would have been level on points with them, such was tightness of that division.

This would be a decent test for both then, and very warm conditions welcomed both sides at the Sports Ground, but it was the visitors who struck first in the ninth minutes when a long throw on into the box saw the keeper come but not get anywhere near it and he was beaten to the ball by an attacker who headed the ball into the unguarded net.

But less than a minute later Sports found a leveller as they hit back in the best possible way as a long ball through the Global defence saw a first time finish past the keeper and into the net as this one was 1-1 after ten minutes play.

Global then had a spell where they looked like they could retake the lead, but Debden were by no means being outplayed and were competing just as well, and nine minutes before the break Sports took the lead when after a defender had been done by the bounce of the ball off the rock hard surface, an attacker rammed the ball home behind him and it meant Debden would go into the break with the lead.

Half Time Debden Sports 2 Global 1

Sports could of increased their lead after half time with two early openings, but then Global went very close themselves when they struck the bar and eleven minutes into the second period did then level after another keeper error at the near post, seeing the ball slipping from his grasp after a cross to the near post, saw Global pounce and poke him from close range.

I know I said Global hit the bar, well I cannot remember if this was before of after their leveller, but what was certain is with eight minutes to go they found the lead for the first time since the ninth minute opener when a cross saw a defender head against the attackers head and see the ball go in at the near post, and you felt Global might just edge this one.

This wasn’t to be the case though as in the 89^th minute James Bransgrove, remember him, more known for his keeping skills in the senior game most recently with Walthamstow in the Essex Senior League and now training with Dunmow Town, had swapped his linesman duties in the first period for a spell up front in the second half here, powered home a header which despite the best efforts of keeper and defender on the line trying to keep it out, couldn’t and the ball squeezed over the line. (here is a video of that header, thanks to Mart for filming this for me and allowing me to use it for my blog)

Several minutes of injury time followed but neither side could force a winner, so this very entertaining game ended all square.  Special mention for the 17 year old keeper in goal for Global in the second period, he looked very good and made two really good saves and had presence in the box and command of his area, so he certainly staked a claim for the number one jersey that’s for sure.

It was a decent work out for both sides though and plenty for both managers to ponder as their pre-season campaigns continue next weekend.  This was an entertaining game though and both sides should be applauded for that.

Full Time Debden Sports 3 Global 3