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Saturday 14th September

Heath Starts Season With a Bang

The reserve XI opened their season with a long trip to Bushey to play old Salvatorians, who had dropped from the division above. The opening exchanges saw Parms having to defend in an organised manner, as Salvatorians probed the visitors' defence with long balls aimed to unsettle their full backs. Parms dealt with the initial onslaught well, and in what is becoming a feature of their game management, began to play once they had stood firm. Captain Chris Scherer rattled the bar and Adem Bekir had a shot well saved from distance as Parms began to get a grip on the game. There was still danger from Salvatorians though, as their more direct approach tested the visitors' back line. One passage of play involving Nat Newman, Danny Isichei, Yassine Yahia, Nawab Ahmed and Sami Bekir close to their own box was so stunningly quick that the hosts were left chasing shadows and left five players behind the ball when it had concluded. With half time approaching Adem Bekir closed down a Salvatorians midfielder, with the loose ball running to Charlie Heath. Heath proceeded to runn the two centre backs ragged before finishing with his left foot inside the keepers near post. Right on half time, with the hosts still reeling, Isichei then galloped down the right beating a few players before feeding Heath again, who rounded the keeper, then showed great strength to hold off his marker and roll the ball into the net. Inevitably, the second half saw an onslaught from the home team, and as has been a fixture in the last year opponents pressing high once they realise that Parms are playing out from the back. Salvatorians did make a breakthrough from a corner, with a near post run and header not being tracked and the zonal defenders not getting to the ball first. This was a chance for the reserves to show a clear difference to last season, where second half slumps ended with many lost points, and the answer came emphatically and quickly. Just four minutes after the lead had been halved, Heath went on a one-man-mission to restore it. Hassling a defender into a poor back pass, Heath seized on the loose ball and rounded the keeper. Still with lots to do he squeezed the ball in from a narrow angle with two defenders running on to the line. Parms still struggled to control proceedings though, giving up possession cheaply when trying to play out. The visitors were thankful to Steven Kennedy-Clarke in goal for one great save one-on-one, with some vital interventions from Chris Kane and Yahia as well. Isichei had two more bursts forward, pulling back to Adem Bekir who's deflected shot hit the bar, and then had an effort on goal himself that was saved well. Heath almost repeated his first goal with another mazy run, but couldn't quite find the finish to match, followed by Nat Newman's cheeky nutmeg and shot which drifted over. Both efforts deserved a goal, which would have finished the contest. The hosts scored with the last kick of the game, but it was too little too late.