Back-to-back losses stalls Point-to-Point's campaign

Point-to-Point 2 v 3 Racing Club Varndean  (1-1)

Line-up: Tom; Sam, Matt (Paul B), Ryan, Dave; Chris S (Nick B), Mikey, Joe Millar; Paul Goodier, Tom M, Chris P (Nick M)

MOM: Paul Goodier

Dave Scurr, 30th October, Preston Park

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Point-to-Point were knocked off the top of the table in disheartening fashion, beaten by a physically strong albeit one-dimensional Racing Club Varndean. While this wasn’t quite a horror show, the reality check for a full strength Point-to-Point was leaning on the dark side as their supposedly ‘quickstep’ football was beaten fairly convincingly by the old-fashioned 'route one'.

As always, the home team started confidently knowing that there was plenty of flair and skill in the starting 11 to outplay a physically stronger opposition. Led by a solid and lively midfield trio of Searle, Mikey and Joe, Point were able to pass their way into the opponents half and start pressuring their back four. Tom and Paul showed plenty of movement up-front and Philips played with discipline on the right, giving Dave some license to run the right channel. They deservedly scored the opener when Joe found space on the right and whipped a great ball in for Destructo who finished with a tidy header. This capped a confident start and some tidy spells; in the lead and in control…again.

Varndean responded with a blitz of hopeful long balls which gradually had an impact on the game. Their big ‘Frankenstein’ number 10 started to either flick on most balls thrown at him or hold the play up, frustrating his markers and wining free-kicks. The warning signs were there for the team in stripes; Varndean’s sole weapon was hitting long balls towards the Point back four and targeting their keeper…set-pieces would facilitate that for them. They provoked their opponents with plenty of moaning and gamesmanship which ultimately got the better of the home team. Point started committing unnecessary fouls and inexplicably  playing the long ball game themselves. This killed off any momentum Point gained in the first 20 minutes as they struggled to keep the ball and the defence came under increasing pressure. The equaliser epitomised this as Point failed to play it from the back, instead opting for a hopeful long ball which came straight back at them, under pressure, committed a foul and failed to deal with Varndean’s hopeful cross; Varndean’s number 11 was there to collect Dave’s weak clearance and finish from just outside the area.

Things got worst in the second half for Point as Varndean grew in confidence and intensified both  pressure and gamesmanship. It worked a treat for them; the Point players gradually lost their shape, composure and discipline. Varndean capitalised on another hesitant clearance from a cross and deservedly took the lead. Captain Searle got booked, Point failed to keep hold of the ball and kept conceding too many fouls, playing in the hands of their chatty and frustrating opponents. Pushing for an equaliser, they were left vulnerable at the back. Sam’s gearbox stalled as last man, unable to catch the tall number 11, an unlikely hero scoring his second goal of the game and putting the game to bed. Man-of-the-match Paul Goodier staked his claim up-front by pulling a goal back from a good free-kick just after Point’s strong bench of Nick Blake, Paul Barrett and Mercer came on to spark an unlikely comeback. It wasn’t to be – Varndean pushed up the table delighted with three effective points while Point were left scratching their heads.