Hey Jude v FC Brentford - Saturday 14th April

[Ronan]

Is there a live updates thread?

[Paul USA]

So what happend ???

[wibs]

There were five goals in the match none by hey Jude. Wasn't a fair reflection of the match though

[Jakalo]

Here is our match report with the obvious usual team bias. Wibs is correct though, and at 2-0 down if Hey Jude had scored, I think the game would've been very different.

HEY JUDE XI 0 FC BRENTFORD 5

High Fives all round as FC Brentford thrash close rivals in first ever game.

FC Brentford began their footballing history today with a resounding 5-0 defeat of close rivals Hey Jude XI, a team many of the squad have previously played for.

With both sides seeking the early momentum, there was more of a cup feel about the game than a friendly match. The football was end-to-end and a few late challenges were flying in. The Hey Jude winger was sent flying by FCB skipper Michael Beaton while the Hey Jude defence were struggling with the quick feet of forward David Grace.

Despite the end-to-end football, there were not many clear chances in the first twenty minutes. Hey Jude played their way into promising positions, but lacked the final ball or shooting opportunities. Meanwhile, FC Brentford’s best chances fell from set pieces, with two Chris Tweedie corners headed agonisingly over by Grace.

As the game settled, the FCB midfield of Sam Tomes, Kev Bailey and James Wicks began to grab hold of the game. The passing game started to show and fullbacks Ali Dawes and Stu Saunders were flying up and down the wings. Suitably then, it was left-back Saunders who triggered the build up to the first goal. His neat interplay with Bailey and Grace found Jak Linsell on the edge of the box who curled the ball home into the bottom corner. The run from right-back Dawes was crucial as he pulled the Hey Jude defender away, allowing Linsell to find the space for the finish.

The period just after a team scores is statistically the most likely time when they also concede, and true to form Hey Jude battled hard to pull a goal back. However the defensive partnership of Beaton and Adam Day with Tomes sitting just in front ensured the Hey Jude chances were limited. Goalkeeper Jack Beaton, younger brother of Michael, showed fantastic handling from both shots and corners in his first adult match.

Five minutes before half time, FC Brentford extended their lead with another Linsell goal. A flowing passing move again involving Bailey and Grace fell to Tweedie but the striker’s instinctive shot was cleared off the line. However, Linsell flung himself at the rebound to score with an overhead kick. Linsell then almost immediately turned from scorer to provider as a well-worked move with Wicks found Tweedie through on goal but his delicate chip was well parried by the Hey Jude ‘keeper. Half time and FCB deservedly led 2-0.

During half time, player-manager Wicks substituted himself for Italian striker Marco Maltese. Maltese took Linsell’s place on the side of the attack, with the goalscorer dropping back into midfield. Hey Jude meanwhile appeared to change their shape at half time to a four-man midfield, which would outnumber FC Brentford’s midfield trio.

Hey Jude’s tactical alteration and fifteen minute respite saw them come out with all-guns-blazing and it required two fantastic last ditch tackles from Day and Beaton to stop them running through. The skipper’s tackle caused controversy as Hey Jude were incensed that a penalty was not given, but both referee and the nearby linesman disagreed. When Hey Jude did finally break through with just the keeper to beat, their striker pulled his shot narrowly wide of the post.

Hey Jude were quickly taking control of the game, and FCB were worried that a goal pulled back could lead to another. In response, Wicks pulled off the tiring Grace and Tweedie, and replaced them with pacy striker Chris Peanut and the more physical Will Tubb. The substitution paid immediate dividends as a through ball by Tubb ended up with Maltese, who calmly beat his marker and slammed the ball into the net.

The third goal settled the FC Brentford nerves, and fullbacks Dawes and Saunders were becoming increasingly important in both defending and providing width in attack. After some delightful pass and move play between Dawes, Tubb and Tomes on the right, a quick Tubb throw-in set Peanut through on goal and the striker shot perfectly into the bottom corner to make the score 4-0.

With the game now back in FCB control, and with the keeper and defence looking unbeatable, Steven Smith and Anthony Lock came on to close out the game. However it was to be the increasingly confident Peanut who finished the game off with the best goal of the day. His run down the left wing ended in a peach of an effort that flew into the top far corner. 5-0. Game over and FC Brentford had won their first ever match. A friendly shaking off hands ensued as Hey Jude XI made that a hard-earned victory today.

Starting Lineup (4-3-3): J.Beaton; Dawes, Day, M.Beaton, Saunders; Wicks (sub Maltese), Tomes, Bailey (sub Smith); Linsell (sub Lock), Tweedie (sub Tubb), Grace (sub Peanut).

MOTM: Saunders – just ahead of fellow fullback Dawes, the left back made important contributions in both defence and attack throughout the whole match.

Jak.

[SmiffyBee]

I only saw the first half but Chris Tweedie was the man of the match for me.
I am confused as to the change of shape as Hey Jude were playing 4-4-2 in the first half !

First goal was a dfecent effort from Jak.
Upto this point the game was even and Hey Jude had two very good spells domonating possession, with a few corners and throw ins in the final third but failed to score.

FC Brentford looked good on the attack and a 2nd goal came after a rush of blood to the keepers head, as he was rounded and the ball ended up in the unguarded net.

.....thanks to all 12 Hey Jude players who turned up....

will be chasing you for money this week !

[BeeHomeSoon]

I thought we were very unlucky...
A couple of errors allowed the first 2 goals. However we were competitive in the first half.
We started the 2nd half on the front foot pressuring FC Brentford. Had a great penalty shout turned down and then Hawkes? missed and absolute sitter.
Could have really turned the game on its head. They nicked a 3rd and that knocked the stuffing out of us...
Wigley? was my MOM caused them loads of problems on the flanks.

I felt like Clayton Donaldson too with my throws that amounted to F-all

[SmiffyBee]

Let the records show that the Hey Jude team was..

--------------Martin---------------
Paul D----Nixon---Nick G----Supes
--------------------------------------
Wigley----Rob F---BHS-----Hawkes
--------------------------------------
------------Wibs----Dunc G--------

sub Shaggy