The Bell Inn finished 2012 with a ‘cracker’.
Despite already playing Hillside twice this season, winning 14-3 in the league and 7-0 in the cup, players were missing and Hillside have improved.
However, player manager Tom Brown returned to make his first outfield appearance of the season and scored a clinical hat-trick.
Jamie Butler scored his first goal for the club with a bullet header and Will Farrow actually got a shot on target and managed to get on the score sheet too.
There was a big calamity at the start of the game as Robbie Stone went AWOL for the 4th time this season.
Later, Brown recieved a text from Stone saying ‘MATE I NEED HELP! GIVE ME A TAXI NUMBER ASAP’.
We still haven’t heard from him and fear he is dead.
Captain Richard Donovan had more important things to do today and has probably lost his place in the squad after the Bell Inn’s make shift defence were outstanding and kept a clean sheet.
Adam ‘Saggy’ Brown tried to bottle the game until we phone his home phone and got Sue Brown to get him out of bed and to football.
Reece Ashman and Chris Richmond turned up after kick off meaning the Bell Inn had to start with 10 players.
When things got back to normal and everyone sobered up, the yellows took control.
They took the lead when a sublime through ball from Dale Simpson put Brown through and he curled it first time into the bottom corner. Many onlookers described it as an Henry-like goal.
Hungover/still drunk Danny Bland spent the first 20 minutes committing fouls and handballs and was lucky not to be sent off a few times. He escaped with a yellow and sobered up by half time.
Joe Pattison, returning from suspension against the team he got sent off against for stamping on one of their heads, was put through by Brown and despite having acres of time and space, managed to pass the ball wide of the post.
Will Farrow scored the Bell Inn’s second with a powerful 20 yard strike.
Half time – Bell Inn 2 v 0 Hillside.
With A.Brown turning up, the Bell Inn now had a sub. He was instantly handed the linesman’s flag.
T.Brown made it three after great work from Simpson in the box.
A.Brown eventually came on for an injured Jack Tarrant and started to pull the strings in midfield.
A good Pattison corner landed on the head of Jamie Butler who gave the keeper no chance with his first goal for the club.
Butler, a striker by trade, is hoping to keep Donovan out of the team with a solid display at centre back.
The hat trick was completed by Brown after a scoop from Pattison put him through and he cooly rounded the keeper to slot home.
Player manager Neil Anderson decided to get change and bring himself on for Pattison, and was gifted a chance 8 yards out, but somehow managed to scuff it wide.
Final Score – Bell Inn 5 v 0 Hillside.
PLAYER RATINGS
Chris Richmond – 6 – Literally had nothing to do. Asked to come off because he was so bored.
James Hyde – 7 – Sober. Made a difference.
Jamie Butler – 9 – First start for the club in a new position but made it his own.
Danny Bland – 6 – Started the game very poorly but once the alcohol had sweated out, regained his composure.
Liam Ward – 7 – Almost scored. Avoided any cards. Solid.
Will Farrow – 7 – Decent goal. Proving that he is a much better player than his brother Josh.
Jack Tarrant – 8 – Always plays well.
Dale Simpson – 9 – MAN OF MATCH – Simply unplayable.
Reece Ashman – 8 – Top performance and great to have him back after suspension.
Joe Pattison – 6 – Missed a sitter. Overall contribution was decent with two assists.
Tom Brown – 15 – Has been sorely missed. The club’s best player. Great hat trick.
SUBS
Adam Brown – 7 – Had a haircut; looked better.
Neil Anderson – 5 – Had three touches, one of them was missing a sitter.
The Bell Inn sit 6 points clear at Christmas and have played 10 of their 20 games. They also have a game in hand.
The County Cup quarter final awaits in January too so all being well, we will win the double.
So far it has been brilliant but we must carry on and continue and not let this slip.
Some people have been slack recently with turning up late, refusing to run the line, being pissed (yes I am included in all of these three things) but after Xmas we need to regain the type of form we had at the start of the season.
And finally, it was nice to have Mulbarton A Team boys Tris Stoneman and Tubbs on the side lines supporting the team.
Happy Christmas.
Don’t drink too much (Danny Bland)
Regards,
Tom ‘He plays when he wants, he scores when he wants’ Brown.
The Bell Inn F.C 