BARRY GOLDSTEIN TROPHY
CAMDEN PARK 3 L'EQUIPE 3
A deadly double from man-of-the-match Nick Stern earned L'Equipe an impressive point in their BGT opener against first division Camden Park.
L'Equipe knew they'd be in for a tough game against a very good Camden side. Their game-plan was to press high up the pitch and not let Camden dictate
The visitors gave everything and defended like warriors in the first half. On a boggy pitch going uphill, they managed to hold Camden off, limit them to few chances and go in at half-time only 1-0 down.
L'Equipe joint-manager Josh Lewis told the team at half-time that if they "got a few set-pieces, they could capitalise with the height and strength" in the team.
They started the second half on the front foot and won an early corner. The ball came in from Rich 'Scotty' Alexander - it was only half cleared by Camden defence and as the ball came down from the clearance just inside the box, Stern with his back to goal pulled off an absolute worldy bicycle kick to get it back to 1-1.
With confidence high, L'Equipe kept pressing forward and Camden knew they were in a scrap. L'Equipe then won another corner, this time Josh Lewis swinging one in for captain Mark Singer to score a bullet header and make it 2-1.
With 25 minutes still to go, L'Equipe knew it would be hard to hold on, with Camden pressing for an equaliser, which they then scored 10 minutes later.
L'Equipe heads didn't go down and they continued to battle when Jon Kay was put through on goal and was clearly taken down in the penalty area. Stern
For the last 10 minutes Camden threw everything and then scored from a corner when L'Equipe's stand-in keeper was unable to claim the ball.
Camden's goals came via Rob Hershkorn and Mike Khalastchi.
L'Equipe held on for the point and their start to the BGT delighted Lewis. He told JC Sport: "The boys are really up for it and we'll look to press on now against Norstar and London Rovers."
Camden's Max Saunders told JC Sport: "First and foremost, I have to say the pitch we played on was the worst pitch any of us had ever played on. About 40 per cent of the pitch was unplayable and the rest was just about playable, but still terrible.
"It was nothing short of an embarrassment to the competition, and I have no idea why we weren’t given the option of a postponement as the game which was scheduled to play on the pitch next to us, was called off after the pitch was assessed.
"Went into half-time 1-0 up, feeling very comfortable, managing to play some decent football considering the state of the pitch. Fair play to L’Equiqe - they took advantage of their aerial dominance in set-pieces and played to the conditions, scoring a brilliant over-head kick in the process and put pressure on us whenever they could.
"However, I think it would have been a completely different game if we played on a surface slightly resembling a football pitch."
