Livett felled by Wilkinsons Sword

Goresbrook's third team returned to winning ways on a dramatic day at Ford's Sports and Social Club on Saturday afternoon. Several changes from the previous weekends defeat away at Tillingham gave captain Danny Gillham Snr an experienced side for his last match as skipper before the return of Brad Winsley next weekend.

Goresbrook won the toss and elected to bat on a gloriously sunny afternoon. As the teams set out on the long trek to the back pitch at Ford's Joe Barwick revealed that his father had not packed his bag correctly and the match balls had not made the journey, following a brief discussion with the club chairman Dean Barwick, Goresbrook's skipper drove to United Sports and picked up a deal of the day two for one offer on Gunn and Moore's club match balls thus saving the club a substantial amount. Joe was also rebuked later by his father for not being more responsible about where he put his balls.

The game finally started just twenty minutes late with Andrew Livett and Lee Jones opening the batting for the home side. The pair were comfortable early on, repelling Hardy and the wonderfully named Hornchurch Athletic Under 15 Harry Gilham without timing shots too well. Jones soon got into his stride though and hit a succession of shots to the boundary. He fell shortly after though holing out when looking well set.

Livett was looking well set himself and was joined by Joe Wilkinson and the two kept the score ticking over seeing off the opening bowlers and the erratic Akash. The veterans were finding gaps at will and made ones into twos when Marv was on strike as they pushed the scoring on nicely without giving a chance. Drinks came eventually with the score on 91 and given Livett's propensity for outbursts in drinks breaks at Fords, it was no surprise to hear him expressing his annoyance at the long breaks between overs as Hornchurch deliberated over every fielding position. It is not believed that Hornchurch's captain was invited to consider his field in the car park however.

'Marv' pushed on and completed his half century shortly after the break, while Goresbrook's answer to Steve Martin, the evergrey Wilkinson accelerated as Brook looked to up the tempo and set Athletic a big score to chase. Hornchurch shuffled their pack again though resulting in the introduction of spin and this was to be the undoing of Livett as he nibbled Hunt behind to the keeper who took a regulation catch. Hunt bowled well with his unique high front leg action, presumably learned from his mentor, Brentwood 1st team spinner Paul Humphries, who starts his run up with a dressage style knee hitch. Hunt's flailing leg seemed to delay the delivery of the ball and he accounted for Keith Friend who top edged to short fine leg failing to time his shot with the arrival of the Gunn and Moore.

Ali was next in following a sleep next to the boundary as he looked to shake off his previous nights clubbing exploits and looked comfortable against the Hornchurch attack that had introduced more pace from 'Bash' Harford. With twos being turned into ones Wilkinson was showing signs of agitation as he closed in on a half century of his own but the Phillip Schofield of the middle order was denied nine runs short as Ali's shout of 'yes, yes, no' left Wilkinson hopelessly short as he looked for a second that Ali had no interest in.

Wilkinson was unsurprisingly livid at his dismissal and was heard telling Ali 'you’re the worst runner in the club', a title long held by David Leadbeater, although Kane Messenger, whilst an exceptional runner, is commonly held to be the poorest judge of his own ability to cover 22 yards, believing as he does, that he manages it in a time barely bettered by Usain Bolt. Wilkinson's rage didn’t calm on the walk off the pitch and in another show of ill discipline Goresbrook's 76th capped player launched his bat in a manner reminiscent of Happy Gilmore's famous putter throw.

Unfortunately the bat headed directly towards Marv who had the misfortune to be standing in Wilkinson's path, no doubt keen to offer a consoling word. Worn out from his impressive 54 Marv was unable to move out of the way and the bat struck him just above the knees knocking him instantly to the ground, or level with the carpet as they say in the Wilkinson household. Luckily Marv recovered shortly after bystanders had stopped laughing and was able to take to the field later in the day, his legendary mobility unblemished by the assault.

Late call up Matt Jones played fluently through the gully region and pressed Ali to run harder as the pair put on 27 runs before Jones was run out for 16 (through no fault of Ali's) trying to push the score on, as they had become bogged down in the mid overs. Bobby Gaymer fell to Harford very shortly after for a duck on his return to action and was followed next ball by Gurden leaving 'Bash' on a hattrick.

The very next over saw Ali get bowled for 13 by the returning Hardy and Joe Barwick matched Gurden's golden duck leaving Hardy on a hattrick. Brook had collapsed from 138-2 to 168-9. Gillham and Paul Atkins survived the hat trick balls and the pair showed there athleticism with blistering running between the wickets to put on 26 in the last three overs. Gillham hooked Harford for a magnificent four as he avoided a third consecutive duck following a session with Goresbrook's batting doctor Jordan Harris.

With tea taken on 194 Brook felt they should have scored at least 30 more and should have got maximum batting points.

Tea included two trays of sandwiches for some reason, changing from the normal four as the trays had been combined although the volume of sandwiches looked far less than normal. The sporadically populated fruit tray provided the healthy option as the biscuits again proved the highlight of another sub standard tea.

Hemmings and Coates got the response under way for the visitors and anything short and wide was dealt with accordingly. Goresbrook's Tawny headed talisman Barwick opened in his normal drifting style following his relegation from the second to third XIs. Credit has to be given to him for his attitude though following his rough handling in recent home encounters.

Gaymer took a while to find his line and once he did bowled very well and accounted for Coates with a fine delivery.
Roe followed shortly after as Gillham and Ali replaced the opening pair as Ali bowled him. Akash didn’t last much longer as Gillham had a delivery caught behind by Gurden.

Hemmings though at the other end was in fine fettle and played some excellent late cuts alongside some powerful off and cover drives. With Gillham and Ali stifling runs with tight bowling and aided by committed Goresbrook fielding the run rate started to increase past seven an over. With the field pushing back Hornchurch tried their luck with some bigger shots as Gaymer returned alongside Atkins who was perhaps the star man in the field along with Matt Jones.

Speller finally fell for an unorthodox 18 as Barwick made a simple catch look difficult off Gaymer. Atkins ramped up the pressure even further with a strangely disciplined five overs of line and length bowling and bagging the prized scalp of Hemmings as Gillham took a good catch in the covers. With the field set deep Livett and Friend showed their commitment with fine running to stop boundaries before Barwick was brought back for the climax.

Atkins had Harford caught at point by Matty Jones for 8 before Barwick got his reward with the wicket of King as Ali held on well to a drive. Brook couldn’t take the final three wickets to get maximum bowling points but sealed a hard fought victory by 29 runs over Hornchurch, a side whose lowly league position on this evidence belies their ability.