By Tom Price - scored Falcons' quickest goal
Brighton Bandits XI 2 - London Falcons XI 5
Friendly • Sunday, 30th September, 2007 • Brighton

Sunday 30th September saw a London Falcons XI take on a Brighton Bandits team containing 5 new players in a friendly match in Brighton.

The game started with a bang when Tom Price netted a well taken volley after only 18 seconds!! Recording the fastest goal in London Falcons short history!! The kick off was played straight back to experienced centre back Dan Walton who launched a long ball over the top of the Brighton defence who were caught cold. Tom Price got in behind the defenders and latched on to Walton’s long ball crashing the ball home on the bounce.

The game continued in much the same vein with numerous chances being squandered by a rampant Falcons XI team. With both teams fielding numerous new and inexperienced players the game was scrappy, though there were some impressive performances throughout, not least from striker Sam Elliot who was unlucky to have a goal disallowed for high foot with 10 minutes gone.

Falcons showed some good passing moves, and communication was much improved, ensuring that they were always comfortable in the first half. A good passing move between Mike Stephen, Chase Newton and Sam Elliot released Elliot to coolly knock home his first for Falcons and the 2nd of the game.

Another player making an impression at Falcons is new signing Tony Kerr, taken on in September from local rivals London Titans. Kerr proved once again why his striking potential are coveted by Falcons, when he took advantage of some sloppy defending to slide home Falcons 3rd and his 2nd in 2 games.

Randall took the 3 goal cushion as an opportunity to field some fresh legs and new blood by bringing on Gary Britnell and David Maguire to replace Tom Price and Chase Newton. Britnell continued his impressive start with Falcons by causing the Brighton defence numerous problems after coming on, just lacking the killer finish in front of goal.

The first half had been an impressive defensive display by summer signing and captain for the day Jamie Okaro and the ever reliable Walton, and it was only when Mike Stephen unfortunately turned the ball in to his own net from a corner that Brighton looked to get back in to the game. Haywood up front providing Brighton’s biggest threat, as he challenged right back, Tony Carpenter, with his pace and strength constantly to no avial. And this threat was realised soon after the half time break when a short corner was poorly closed down and Heywood fired a superb strike past a helpless Falcons defence.

10 minutes in to the 2nd half Randall brought Price back in to the game, replacing debutant Joe Zoheir, and his influence was soon felt when his threaded through ball found Kieran Evans after a smart exchange of passes with Kerr. Evans used his pace to get in behind the defence and pick up the through ball and firing home at the near post for his first of the season.

The game was unfortunately marred by the accidental injury of Brighton midfield maestro, who fell going up for a header at a Brighton corner and unfortunately landed awkwardly dislocating his left shoulder. We wish him a swift recovery.
After a 6 minute delay to the game for the injury the game was able to get back under way, and it wasn’t long until they put the game out of reach. A smart run by Tony Kerr and cross caused the Brighton keeper to fumble the ball, dropping at Tom Price’s feet who coolly rounded the keeper and slotted home for his 2nd.

The final 5 minutes of the game saw Falcons defend solidly and hold on to take a 5-2 victory back to London.

Brighton manager Lee Towsey commented after the game that he had been pleased to be able to field several new young players, and looked forward to working with them in the future. He also commented that the game was played in the usual good spirits and he looked forward to seeing us in January for the game in the GFSN league!!

This weekend London Falcons take on Birmingham Blaze in the GNL cup at Sheen common playing fields.

IMAGES TO FOLLOW!
images by Richard Eason