Town welcomed Frenford Senior to Love Lane on Tuesday evening for both teams final league game of what has been a long hard season. This was Towns fifth mid week game in the last month of the season which brings its own problems, not the least player availability and is certainly something the league needs to address – whatever happened to playing on a Saturday afternoon? - This was their seventh mid week game of the season, or to put it another way, almost a third of the total games played, and we don’t even have floodlights!!! – Anyway moan over and onto the game.

Frenford started much the brighter and dominated the opening stages of the game during which time Town couldn’t settle down, pass the ball or string anything together. At this stage only the defensive trio of Lodgey, Ready and Dave Martin were performing at anywhere near the level we have come to expect and between them they kept Town in the game. After 30 minutes. Against the run of play Town took the lead – the pacey Niki Love left a couple of defenders for dead down the right wing and although he could probably have gone on himself he unselfishly squared the ball back to Ben Polley who steadied himself , rounded a defender and coolly placed the ball into the net, 1-0. Town now settled down a bit and probably enjoyed slightly more of the possession going into half time. At half time better passing and a bit more effort were called for.

The second half kicked off and again Town were sloppy in possession and gave the ball away with alarming regularity but despite this they continued to look dangerous on the break. Niki Love went on a mazy past several players but was fouled just outside the box just when he looked like he might “be in”. Brad Merrick also went on a mazy but then succumbed to a nasty nosebleed once he crossed the half way line so that was the end of that!! – Ben Polley hit the outside of the post from a free kick with the keeper beaten. All of these “chances” were on the break as Frenford continued to have the better of the game. They equalised when Lodgey, whilst attempting to intercept a cross hammered the ball into the top corner for his first goal of the season, giving keeper Chris Neal absolutely no chance (I am sure I heard Lodgey shout “get in there” such was the high quality of the finish). 15 minutes before the end Frenford deservedly took the lead with a fine left foot shot from the edge of the box, 1-2. Town huffed and puffed and even brought on Davey Armstrong (only to keep him happy so he brings his brother along next season) to add a bit of youthful enthusiasm to the proceedings but to no avail and sadly Town slipped to a rather disappointing defeat in their final game of the season.

Summary: Town never really got going and were, perhaps understandably bearing in mind there was nothing to play for, rather lethargic on the night and Frenford thoroughly deserved the 3 points – on a positive note the Town players certainly livened up when the Beer, Chips and Pizza arrived. As a footnote I am sad to report that after his magnificent oggy Lodgey went home and in a fit of depression, and with retirement in mind, he threw his boots away; and missed the bin !!

Player of the match: Dave Martin – adding a good awareness to his game now to go with his blistering pace.

El Col