It was always going to be difficult for Old Bens Football Club’s first XI in a season where some of the club’s best players migrated to pastures new, following the local club’s termination and subsequent reinstatement into the Easterns Football Association.
Old Bens’ senior team, who started the season in the Super League prior to their termination, were reinstated into the Easterns Second Division after a recent league restructure.
According to their coach, Dave Clarke, the termination debacle definitely affected the team’s performance against Kempton Park on Saturday, July 6, at Currin Park, as he had to rely on younger, inexperienced players to help fill vacancies left behind.
Their opposition, fresh off an 8-1 defeat against Benoni Northerns in the ELFA Cup, last weekend, started the game brightly and capitalised early with a goal in the first few minutes.
Kempton caused all sorts of problems for a young Bens defence in the first 45 minutes and the teams went into the break 3-0 up.
The home team had a much better second half, with striker John Wilson causing problems for the opposition.
Wilson managed to get Old Bens onto the score sheet, but that was all the team could muster in the final stages.
The game ended at 3-1 in favour of Kempton Park.
Clarke commented: “We are rebuilding a team and I am proud of the way the boys played, especially in the second half.
“We made some basic mistakes during the match, but definitely won the second half.”
Clarke added that he believes that his young chargers can only learn from such an experience.
