Yet another new era began on Sunday.
Under the new management and leadership of Mr Logan, Abberley Vale began their new season.
Mr Logan (aka Pascy) has taken over from Thompson after his playing days came to an end in October 2009 when he injured his ankle playing for the Vale. Next to him this season on match days, you will also find the boot room boy that is Gonge (Ohhhh Gonge!). His number 2.
Merrion will also be buzzing around somewhere no doubt also. Probably texting Barbara, Beryl or some other conquest of his!!!!
Making league debuts for us were Sean, Luke, Handley, Dan and Dennis (Connor).
So after weeks in the pub discussing who would play in a 4-4-2, the long awaited team news was announced………. “Lads, we’re playing 4-5-1 today!”
The team and subs are on your left as usual, but what isn’t shown are the lads who didn’t get to come on off the bench. And if that wasn’t a sign of strength in depth poor Pascys first job (after filling in the mole hills and checking for dog sh*t) was to tell several players that he couldn’t even name them on the bench. That’s definitely a first since I’ve been involved with the club and it will be interesting to see how many we have still, come the frosty mornings!
Gaylo couldn’t even find himself a starting place in the eleven and he won our fantasy player of the season in 09/10 (God knows how mind)!
On with the game anyway.
I won the toss and chose to have kick.
The ref then asked me what end I wanted.
So I told him.
He then announced it was their kick.
As usual it was all too much for me, so I gave the ref a nice smile before retreating to my position!
So with our 5 man midfield we got the game underway (well they did. It was their kick) and began the new season. Neither team looked great and neither team really looked like scoring in the first half. Unfortunately though, even if they didn’t look like scoring, they managed too!
0-1!
At least it was now our kick off!!!!!
And just like the ‘special one’ at Madrid, our new manager looked to change things immediately…….. “Lads we’re changing to 4-4-2”!
HT 0-1
Gaylo came on for the 2nd half and replaced Dan on the left. Could he turn the game on its head (it was a long shot!)?
To be fair to him though, his first corner that he took in the 2nd half very nearly resulted in a goal. A great cross to the back post was headed inches wide.
Dirky had a half chance also but the keeper did well and closed him down quickly.
As in our pre season games though, we created next to nothing really and when a penalty was awarded against Gaydar (Fez) for the 2nd game running it all looked a bit ominous. They converted their spot kick and two nil it was.
And that’s how it finished. A two nil defeat at home. (That did mean we got three kick offs however, and they only had the one.)
Oh, by the way….. They went down to ten men after half an hour after getting a man sent off. You wouldn’t have known it though!
*Don’t get used to a lengthy match report like this boys and girls. I’ll soon get bored of it again and it will be back to match highlights.*
