The Goldenbears’ winning start to the season came to an abrupt end in Sunday’s top-of-the-table clash with Day One at Blenheim Park.
Despite the challenge facing his side, Gaffer Colin Ekers opted to stick with the 4-3-3 formation that had served them so well in their opening games and it appeared to be paying dividends as they took the game to the home side from kick-off.
An early period of pressure saw Matt Reade clip the top of the bar after just six minutes with a looping effort from the edge of the area.
However, the tactic backfired as Garvary were outnumbered and overrun in midfield.
It nearly cost the Goldenbears after just eight minutes when they failed to track a runner from deep whose effort was hit wide of the far post.
The home side were on the receiving end of the better opportunities as the ball failed to stick for Garvary in the final third.
Chris Reade needed to be on hand to clear the ball off the line after a rebound from a Day One corner was hit back at goal on 18 minutes.
Another close-call came after 26 minutes as a cross almost picked out Day One’s number 9 who was free at the far post but unable to get enough height on his leap to connect with the ball.
Garvary’s front-three began to lose their positional discipline as the half progressed and were guilty of narrowing the pitch far too often, but they did show glimpses of their ability.
Matt Crumbie drove towards goal at pace and hit a shot just wide of the past shortly after the half-hour mark.
The effort encouraged the Goldenbears and it wasn’t long before they took the lead.
Progressive build-up play and Crumbie’s determination to keep possession on the halfway line saw Matt Reade emerge with the ball and head for goal before slipping in Ekers to drive a shot past the helpless ‘keeper from a tight angle on 38 minutes.
Progressive build-up play and Crumbie’s determination to keep possession on the halfway line saw Matt Reade emerge with the ball and head for goal before slipping in Ekers to drive a shot past the helpless ‘keeper from a tight angle on 38 minutes.
The Goldenbears searched for a second but, despite patient approach play, failed to provide a killer final pass.
The goal was vital for Garvary and gave them a platform to build on for the second half.
Unfortunately, the Goldenbears failed to do so and looked extremely vulnerable from the restart as they began to lose more of the aerial battles.
Day One piled the pressure on the away side and had several efforts at goal – hitting two efforts wide from the edge of the box two minutes into the half.
Garvary fought back and were unfortunate not to double their lead on 53 minutes by meeting a corner kick with a header that was tipped onto the bar from 12 yards.
The short respite in pressure didn’t last as Day One began their ascendency.
Marc Baker dwelt on the ball in favour of clearing his lines and was almost punished as Day One took possession and approached the by-line, but was fortunately bailed out with a last-ditch challenge by Moore.
The resulting corner needed to be punched wide by Childs in the Garvary goal and the stopper rose well above the melee to get his hand to the ball, but it fell to a Day One head and he was lucky to see the ball flash wide of his left-hand post.
Moore again came to his side’s rescue on the hour mark by hacking a drilled 18-yard effort that was destined for the net off the line.
Garvary’s attacking formation hampered their defensive stability and, despite the midfield trio’s best efforts, they found themselves unable to cope with the waves of Day One attacks.
The Goldenbears dug deep but it was only a matter of time before the home side equalized. Their time came on 70 minutes.
Garvary failed to clear their lines from a corner and Day One scored with a long-range effort that flew in off the left-hand post.
Prior to the game Garvary captain Adam Moore cited a need to focus in order to iron out their defensive frailties, but failed to take his own advice as he was found wanting for the goal that earned Day One their lead just three minutes later.
He was beaten too easily at the by-line and the subsequent cross found a Day One head and was nodded home past a helpless Childs.
It was hard on the Garvary skipper who had defended valiantly up until that pivotal moment in the game.
Day One deserved the win but were fortunate with the third goal on 80 minutes.
Childs ventured from his line to claim what seemed to be an innocuous ball high into the box, but the Garvary number one dropped a clanger and allowed the ball to slip from his grasp for the Day One striker to complete the easiest of tap-ins a yard from goal.
The game’s action was completed with a couple of long-range Day One efforts that veered just wide of the goal.
Garvary will be disappointed not have continued their winning ways following last Sunday’s dramatic victory at the Hall, but will have to bounce back from what was a demoralising defeat and produce the flowing forward-thinking football that they are capable of.
Unfortunately, the Goldenbears failed to do so and looked extremely vulnerable from the restart as they began to lose more of the aerial battles.
Day One piled the pressure on the away side and had several efforts at goal – hitting two efforts wide from the edge of the box two minutes into the half.
Garvary fought back and were unfortunate not to double their lead on 53 minutes by meeting a corner kick with a header that was tipped onto the bar from 12 yards.
The short respite in pressure didn’t last as Day One began their ascendency.
Marc Baker dwelt on the ball in favour of clearing his lines and was almost punished as Day One took possession and approached the by-line, but was fortunately bailed out with a last-ditch challenge by Moore.
The resulting corner needed to be punched wide by Childs in the Garvary goal and the stopper rose well above the melee to get his hand to the ball, but it fell to a Day One head and he was lucky to see the ball flash wide of his left-hand post.
Moore again came to his side’s rescue on the hour mark by hacking a drilled 18-yard effort that was destined for the net off the line.
Garvary’s attacking formation hampered their defensive stability and, despite the midfield trio’s best efforts, they found themselves unable to cope with the waves of Day One attacks.
The Goldenbears dug deep but it was only a matter of time before the home side equalized. Their time came on 70 minutes.
Garvary failed to clear their lines from a corner and Day One scored with a long-range effort that flew in off the left-hand post.
Prior to the game Garvary captain Adam Moore cited a need to focus in order to iron out their defensive frailties, but failed to take his own advice as he was found wanting for the goal that earned Day One their lead just three minutes later.
He was beaten too easily at the by-line and the subsequent cross found a Day One head and was nodded home past a helpless Childs.
It was hard on the Garvary skipper who had defended valiantly up until that pivotal moment in the game.
Day One deserved the win but were fortunate with the third goal on 80 minutes.
Childs ventured from his line to claim what seemed to be an innocuous ball high into the box, but the Garvary number one dropped a clanger and allowed the ball to slip from his grasp for the Day One striker to complete the easiest of tap-ins a yard from goal.
The game’s action was completed with a couple of long-range Day One efforts that veered just wide of the goal.
Garvary will be disappointed not have continued their winning ways following last Sunday’s dramatic victory at the Hall, but will have to bounce back from what was a demoralising defeat and produce the flowing forward-thinking football that they are capable of.
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