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Bullers 2 DAFC 6
Sunday 23rd May 2010
Danson Albion signed off the 2009/10 season with a thumping win over MWS finalists Bullers on a sun soaked morning at The Oaks.
After Wednesday nights miserable defeat to Baldon Sports, Albion were looking to finish their topsy turvy season on a high in what could be their final match in the London & Kent Border league after a four year stay. Danson were without their entire back four from Wednesday with G. Neill and Pike missing through injury, Ben Hawkes on holiday and Lee Holmes at work, leading to a re-shuffle and Matt Hewitt, Tom Jarman and Tom Good coming into the squad from the W&E team. Good made up a one man bench with Hewitt partnering Waddell at centre half, Jarman coming in at right back and Dave Newman playing in a new role at left back. Joe Bell returned to the line-up after injury and Simon Neill returned to the starting line-up on the right hand side.
In the opening stages Danson looked a bit nervy but their nerves were settled when they took the lead after 10 minutes. A Neill corner was met by Standen whose header rebounded off a Bullers defender and fell kindly into the path of Longville who slotted home from close range. Bullers, in yellow, responded when a free-kick was awarded just outside the area and Cairns was unable to hold the powerful strike and the Bullers forward reacted quicker then the Danson defence to level things up.
Terms were not level for long. A Bullers clearance was met by the head of Standen who nodded to the left to centre midfield partner Longville. The inform midfielder unleashed a left footed volley that flew into the top right hand corner for a ‘worldy’ and the goal of the season as even the Bullers players had to applaud. That Longville’s third goal of the week after netting against Baldon on Wednesday night.
Before the break Wayment was forced off after picking up a dead leg, Tom Good coming in up front with Bell switching to the left hand side that Wayment had occupied. With other Albion players struggling with injuries, the team would have to stick together and continue to let the ball do the work in the second half if they were to hold onto their lead and take the points. In the first period Jarman and Neill had linked up well down the right hand side, Newman looked comfortable at left back and Harris was a constant threat to the Bullers backline, and Albion were keen to build upon these positives during the second half.
Harris had received good service from the likes of Bell and Neill in the first half in behind the Bullers defence where he is most dangerous and despite missing a couple of previous chances, his perseverance was rewarded when confusion between Bullers defender and ‘keeper saw Harris’ pressure pay off and the hitman was left with a simple tap in to double his teams advantage and make it 3-1.
Albion were now enjoying the match, with players calm on the ball and letting the ball do the work as they showed signs of the passing football they practice each week in training. Bullers proved little threat to the Danson defence and it was no surprise when Danson made it 4. Waddell, who returned to his favoured position in central defence after playing in the lone strikers role mid week, met a Bell corner at the back post and the player manager produced a calm side footed volley finish that gave Bullers a mountain to climb.
Harris then made it five with his 24th goal of the season, in similar circumstances to his first of the match, the ball breaking away from the goalkeeper leaving the striker with an open net. He may have had his hat-trick when he broke through again soon after but chose to square the ball to Simon Neill who ended his goal drought after over 18 months without finding the net cue the team celebrating as the perfect way to end the season.
Bullers did pull one goal back but that was scant consolation and with the score being Danson’s biggest win of the season, the team were in high spirits as the curtain was drawn on 2009/10. Albion’s players head into the summer break for a rest after a long hard season and will return in positive and determined mood to win silverware next season as they look set to move to the Woolwich & Eltham Alliance.
Cairns, T. Jarman, Waddell, Hewitt, Newman, S. Neill, Standen, Longville, Wayment (Good), Bell, Harris
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