Sparticans Have Winning Comeback

SHC Sparticans 6 – 3 Reigate Priory M4

Scorers: Grant K - 3, Fitch O - 1, Sutton - 1, Curtis, R - 1

As the Sparticans turned up for the big match against top of the league Reigate we were delighted to see each other again after a long month in lockdown. Bede’s school was the venue for the match, which was of high importance. The match was played in a very competitive manner in freezing weather in Redhill.

As the match started, and without sign of our centre back Jimmer, who managed to get stuck in a massive diversion, we started on the back foot. Reigate came out all guns blazing, as they had in all the other matches this year, evident with their 100% record, which was about to be broken…

As Jimmer finally turned up, the match started to open up a bit more and soon we had our first goal as Kev produced an unstoppable hit from the top on our second short corner in a matter of minutes. That lead was soon to be extended as a deflected pass from defence went through to Kev, who on the half-volley mullered it past the bamboozled keeper into the top of the goal. A truly mesmerising moment and after nearly extending our lead and also coming dangerously close to conceding, it was the end of what was a frantic and crazy first half. 

A good team-talk from Skipper for the day, Iffland, and we were ready to go again. We started the second half positively and a few minutes in we had our reward, another inspiring moment from Kev, this time passing the ball from the right touch line into the d which mini-Fitch calmly gathered and teed himself up for a strike from a tight angle that went straight through the keeper’s legs. His Dad, the umpire for the day, looked up to the heavens, hardly believing what had just happened...

At 3-0, we were in control of the game, however a few blips in concentration put us on the receiving end of a blitz from the hosts as they scored two goals in as many minutes to put us in a position where we needed some more goals for security. Those goals came shortly after as a deflected finish from the Gaffer nutmegged the goalkeeper and gave us a two-goal cushion. Another goal shortly followed as Kev sealed a magnificent hat-trick with another deflected goal, this time from a short corner to complete a brilliant performance from him.

With two three minutes remaining and the game more or less won, we took our foot off the gas as Reigate scored a consolation goal. We responded almost imminently as Matt Sutton completed a both individual and team great performance with a last-minute goal to seal the win. All in all, an excellent team performance against a team who had a 100% record coming into today, which left us in good spirits. 

A heavily one-sided vote for Spartican of The Day (SoTD) and Moment of The Match (MoTM) left Kev, with his hat-trick SoTD with Mini Fitch and both Matt’s (Anderson and Sutton) also getting votes. MoTM was given to gaffer for his first goal of the season with mini Fitch’s goal, Jimmer’s football inspired keepy uppies also getting mentioned. A great team performance! Onto next week against Merton!