The best ever performance from Burn FC fell just short of a historic result as Bauer Neverlüsen won 1-0 on a sunny lunchtime on Bournbrook.
Burn FC came into the game off the back of a tough defeat a week before without a few key players but confidence seemed to be high out on the pitch. Joe camp lead with the ball, playing out from the back and a new role for Alex Fletcher in the midfield saw him finding spaces to receive and play in the frontman in Ollie Lenga. This coupled with a solid defensive shape, led by captain Seth Nobes, saw Burn restrict the opportunities of their opponents.
Chances did seep through at times but some very strong saves from myself, Aidan Clarke, in goal made sure that the score stayed at 0-0. Burn even created chances at the other end, forcing a double save from Bayer’s goalkeeper from Joe Camp’s fierce effort and Josh Adams’ well struck rebound. Josh Adams later forced another great stop from their ‘keeper as Burn pushed for a shock result that they well deserved.
The shift from every member of the midfield was so key, with Ella Kipling starting and pressing from the front, even leaving her mark on one of the opposition’s toes. Katie Hill then came on and did the exact same, forcing mistakes on the Bayer right hand side and keeping the opposition as subdued as possible. Anthony Johnson put in his best performance in the purple and white shirt too, with a magnificent deep midfield role in the first half and a solid defensive showing in the second, with so many interceptions.
Disaster struck late in the first half though, with a seemingly innocuous piece of play leading to the one and only goal of the game. Joe Camp played the ball back to his goalkeeper who looked to build out through the midfield and find Anthony Johnson, but completely misplaced his pass and gave it a way, with a square ball then leading to a simple finish back across goal to beat me as I scampered back to try and save my own mistake. A devastating way to lose a game.
But Burn heads didn’t drop, and a resilient second half performance almost saw a comeback. As my own harshest critic, I was forced to accept that I had atoned for my error in the second half, with countless shots coming in and being forced right back out time and again. One double save even came with me twisting my knee on the first, then somehow forcing myself up to save again before collapsing in pain. That’s the passion for the purple.
Oli Shaw came on for the final 10 to try and sure up the defence and did just that, and Burn pushed and fought for an equaliser but just couldn’t find a way through. A harsh defeat in the end but a truly magnificent team performance that saw sweet passing moves, sturdy defensive efforts and desire to try and get the points. By far the most heartening performance that has been seen from Burn FC and with 2 games to go in this term’s season, getting our first points will seem like a much more attainable goal. We go again!
