Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC start new season
Brighton & Hove Albion Powerchair FC (BHAPFC) got their 2018/19 Muscular Dystrophy UK Premiership season underway with two draws and two defeats from their opening four games.
The new season also heralded a new beginning for the squad, following the summer departure of club captain and England international Matthew Francis, who left to join last season’s league and cup winners West Bromwich Albion. As a result, BHAPFC find themselves entering a transition period as they look to rebuild.
Sale PFC provided the first test of the new season; a tough game, against a well-organised team. After frustrating BHAPFC throughout the first half, Sale took an early lead in the second. However, the Albion showed great character and found a quick response, levelling the score just a couple of minutes later through Gregg Baxter. BHAPFC continued to create chances, but were unable to find a winner.
A sluggish start to the second game – coupled with defensive errors – saw Nottingham PFC take a two-goal advantage into half-time. A slight tweak to the team’s formation by manager Chris Hammams proved vital for BHAPFC, who were much the better team after the break. They had brought themselves level by the midway point in the second half thanks to two goals from Lewis Hammans, and continued to push for a winner, but unfortunately it once again proved elusive.
The second day of fixtures saw BHAPFC take on Villa Rockets and West Bromwich Albion Throstles. Two improved performances from the Seagulls will give the team plenty of encouragement for the rest of the season, despite ending the day feeling hard done by having found themselves on the wrong end of a 1-0 score line in both matches.
The team is back in national league action on the weekend of 27 October, when they meet Leeds PFC, Northern Thunder, Sevenoaks PFC, St George’s Knights, and Aspire PFC.
Report by Seb Finch