Sevenoaks Town Football Club are still in search of their first win in the Isthmian League South East Division after a dismal performance on Tuesday night against a rejuvenated Three Bridges FC.
The two sides had reserved the bottom spaces of the league in the early exchanges of the season, but it was Three Bridges who took advantage of a Sevenoaks side that were slow to get going in this must-win match. Poor passing, a lack of energy and too many long balls ultimately proved to be their downfall. And with two goals either side of the half, it was Sevenoaks who were condemned to the foot of the table with just one point after five games.
Admittedly, Three Bridge strangled Sevenoaks from the start and did not allow them to use the outside channels, where full-back Greg Benbow has enjoyed so much freedom this term. The home side also bullied their opposition, and the referee, which allowed them to carve out the result they wanted.
Three Bridges attacked with pace, and when their striker was upended in the box, it gave them the opportunity to score from the resulting penalty despite a good effort by goalkeeper Ben Bridle-Card to keep the ball out. Sevenoaks tried to respond with a Jack Miles header being saved at the near post and Ryan Fowler firing just wide.
The home side then made life even more difficult for Sevenoaks five minutes after the restart when a fierce free kick wasn’t held by Bridle-Card and Three Bridges duly clipped the loose ball into the back of the net. The visitors battled away and tried to create openings, but this was where a resolute back line were strong and brave, showing Sevenoaks how to defend a two goal lead.
This performance was a shadow of the Championship winning side that won the Southern Counties East Football League just five months ago.
Personnel changes
It has been said by a few that now is the time for a clear out, however Sevenoaks Town Manager, Micky Collins, has already made several changes to the squad that won that Championship last season. Players that departed the club in the summer included Jason Thompson, Corey Holder, Chris Edwards, Harrison Carnegie and Brett Ince. And in the past week two more members of last seasons squad, Billy Bennett and Paul Springett, have also left in search of other opportunities. That is a huge seven players, over half the team, who played so well together and for each other, essentially the ‘Class of 2018’!
Their replacements, which have been hand picked by the club, are Zac Attwood, Andres Losada Tobon, Samuel Crabb, Mikey Dalton, Rob Saunders, Jake McIntyre and most recently, Wasin Williams. However, they have yet to prove that they can play together on the pitch with only one point gained from five matches played so far. Adding to this already impressive list may make the squad stronger, but will it make them a team?
Editorial comment
In August, Sevenoaks Sports gave their verdict on the new season after watching a number of pre-season friendlies. We said that if the players stayed fit and focused, then a top three finish would not be out of the question, however this was based on a team that stick together and play together (as they did in pre-season).
We have no doubt that the players are a unit and enjoy each others company off the field, they just need to find that same cohesion on the pitch if they are to compete against their opponents in this league and salvage something from the season.
