FIVE STAR PERFORMANCE !

The historic day for the club has finally arrived as Meridian Football Club enter into the FA Pyramid Step 6 Football with the Kent Invicta Football League.

We welcome our opposition Rusthall FC who have been a long established club with its previous playing experience in the Kent County Football League as many clubs in the KIFL.

Meridian did not take this fixture likely as the players were very focused and prepared in the job at hand.

Meridian started the better of the two teams with good control of the ball and passing which was immediate in its flow, with a ball played deep in midfield to Alex Wasolua who assisted with a telling through ball to Ali Musa who then shrugged off the defender and slotted the ball bottom left, 1-0.

Rusthall FC must be given credit as they dug deep with great touches from their players tried to keep the ball moving and to be positive in their approach.

Meridian kept their composure and it was not until the 23 minute when Wayon Anderson was through only to be brought down, PENALTY! Up stepped Yovonne Otto who despatched the spot kick only for the goalkeeper to make comfortable save.

Boyed on by the penalty save Rusthall pushed and grew with confidence as Meridian knowing they should have been two up composed themselves and thwarted the oppositions attack several times.

It was eventually the quality of Meridian’s right back Conor Brown who incepted a pass then jinked passed two Rusthall midfielders and placed a perfect chipped pass into the path of Wayon Anderson who then in turn finished his chance 2-0 on the brink of half time 45minutes +1.

New environment, new league rules new everything the players were in no uncertain terms instructed by the management of the positives and what needed to improve at half time.

Meridian knew that their opposition would be positive and address their own issues and wasted no time at all by pressing their football trying to rectify and earn some respect from the scoreline.

Good work from the Meridian midfield and telling displays from our defence was the catalyst of today, which again showed time and time again.

Meridian moved the ball well and it was not until the 71st minute the deadlock was broken yet again with a great ball from Kyle Burt putting through that man Wayon Anderson who despatched his shot with purpose, 3-0!

Another chance came soon after as Wayon Anderson this time beat the offside trap and the oncoming opposition centre defender & goalkeeper who accidentally clattered each other but the chance was thwarted just.

Rusthall were now playing for pride but that did not stop Meridian’s football as confidence was high with substitute left back Leyton Thompson becoming provider with a great ball through to Wayon Anderson who then out smarted the Rusthall defence to another well despatched goal, HATRICK, 4-0!!

As match was drawing to an end there was still time enough for Meridian to push. It was not until 90 minutes +2 when the ball was collected by Wayon Anderson from midfield and then releasing Alex Wasolua who then beat the opposition defence running to the left of the goal area and unleashed an unstoppable shot through the narrowest gaps beating the goalkeeper, job done 5-0!!

Meridian management stated after the game “ You only deserve what you get if you are prepared to work for what you believe in and today we deserved our win! Good displays from every member of the squad today was pleasing to the eye, we will enjoy this win today only but will not get carried away as plenty of work and improvement is still required”

With the next game away to Phoenix Sports FC on Tuesday 23rd August KO 6.30PM, it will be another opposition that Meridian FC will relish the challenge to face and be positive!