The weather was warm and pleasant to greet the travelling supporters as we took our places at a rather improved Bearscroft Lane football ground with eager anticipation. It didn't take long though for grim reality to settle in as Debenham LC FC kicked off but the home team gained possession and attacked up the right wing where a cross into the box was sliced for a corner by Lee Bloom after just a minute and a half. The corner kick landed amidst a crowded six yard box where Sam Chilvers in the Hornets’ goal tried to gather the ball but he was beaten to it by the home centre half TOM MORAN who forced the ball into the net to the delight of the home crowd. Debenham looked stunned by the awful opening and just couldn’t seem to get their game going as passes went astray and the home team pressed resulting in Mike Hyem getting clear in on goal after seven minutes but a good block by Sam saved the day. Debenham gradually started to play better and a cross from Liam Bevis was headed towards goal by Ed Cussons but the keeper made an easy save. After 19 minutes Godmanchester had a shot at goal as Shaun French tackled the forward and was booked for his trouble. Debenham were by now getting to grips with the game and the two teams seemed evenly matched with both sides playing neat approach football but neither could turn that into a clear opening and there were a number of shots at goal from distance that did not trouble the goalkeepers. On 35 minutes Adam Rickwood chased a through ball and was bundled over near to the by-line earning a free kick. Jack Severy took a short kick to Liam Bevis whose driven ball across the penalty area was cleared by the home defenders. Godmanchester then had an opportunity when a ball was flighted across the Hornets’ box but Barry Albone flung himself at the ball but couldn’t connect and the chance went begging and then a shot from Mike Hyem was deflected wide of the post.
Debenham were playing a neat passing game in contrast to Godmanchester’s long ball approach and an interchange of passes saw Jack Minns’ shot sail high and wide of the goal. Half time came with both teams struggling to impose themselves on the game and both hoping for better things in the second half.

Half Time   Godmanchester Rovers   1           Debenham LC FC    0

The second half opened with the home team applying pressure on the Debenham goal but the visitors’ defenders kept the home forwards out of the penalty box and they were restricted to trying shots from distance which all troubled the birds in the trees surrounding the pitch more than Sam in the Hornets’ goal. On 52 minutes a high cross went into the home six yard box which Adam Rickwood followed in, as any good centre forward would, and as the keeper landed from his catch he made contact with Adam and took offence at him being there before remonstrating with the referee. Unfortunately for Adam the referee seemed not to notice the keeper’s push at Adam and decided to caution the Hornets’ centre forward, a decision which caused much comment amongst the visiting supporters.
Debenham introduced substitutes after 60 minutes with Kevin Barker and Rob Canfer replacing Jason Palfrey and Adam Rickwood which meant that the midfield  area was strengthened and Marc Wake moved to the middle of the forward line. The reshuffle improved the play for Debenham although Liam Bevis was given a yellow card far a tackle but the same player then collected a throw in from Ed Cussons before shooting from 20 yards but the home keeper gathered the ball comfortably. Jack Severy eyed up a free kick that was awarded 30 yard out in a central position but his shot gained altitude as it sailed high over the bar.
The visitors were imposing themselves on the game more but the play was still untidy and often ended with a misplaced pass or an over hit cross and Godmanchester were certainly still in the game as Lee Bloom made an excellent blocking tackle after Jon Turners shot had been cleared.
Godmanchester’s keeper then made two howlers as on two occasions he let a simple ball roll out of play for a corner but Debenham could not manage to capitalise on either opportunity. Tom Hardwick became the fourth Debenham player to be booked by a somewhat zealous referee (Cambridge FA assessor was watching!) After a silly throw in situation and the record will make the game look worse than it really was although the home centre half Tom Moran was also booked for a rather cynical late challenge that floored Jack Severy.
The remainder of the match failed to get the pulses racing as both teams struggled to get any sort of flow into their game. Debenham will be disappointed to lose as a draw would be have been a fair reflection of the game and there will certainly be much for manager Rob Allum to think about this week.

Full Time     Godmanchester Rovers    1          Debenham LC FC      0
                  Moran  

Godmanchester Rovers FC
Hackney, Hurst, Lloyd, King, Moran, Albone, Hyem M, Hyem C Capt, Brockey, Turner, Hall
Substitutes Hurst S, Hurst D, Ling, Munday, Dean

Goals         Moran                            Cautioned    Hackney Moran

Debenham LC FC
Chilvers, Hardwick, Cussons Capt, Bevis, French, Bloom, Minns, Palfrey, Rickwood, Wake, Severy
Substitutes Barker, Smith, Canfer, Vincent, Hutchings

Cautiuoned      Hardwick Bevis French Rickwood

Referee        Mr D Cook       Assistant Referees   Mr M Foster  Mr I George

Attendance      87