Vale’s penultimate game of the 2008 / 2009 campaign saw us travel to Wolverly on a hot, sunny April morning. Queens Head were our opposition and although they were considerably higher in the league table, our recent form and previous meeting against them, gave us all hope. Earlier in the season we had drawn one all at home against them and missed several good chances to win the game.
Simmo and Pirate were back in the team after missing our previous game and out went Clarky and Sh*t Face. There were early concerns though as Simmo was struggling to open his eyes (Smashed from the night before – probably out with his new best mate, Pascy) and Thompson was struggling to keep his car off the curb and make it to the ground.
The match got underway and straight from the off we took control. We dominated possession, created the only decent chances, won the challenges on the floor and in the air and……
Went one nil down!!!
It’s fair to say that Queens Head only had one chance in the whole of the first half. And that was only a half chance. A free kick was played in from our right and a Queens Head player rose highest and directed a quality header into Thompsons top left hand corner. At least we were used to the scenario that we found ourselves in, as we must have conceded half of our goals this season in the first ten minutes.
Despite our good start, inspiration was now needed…. It came!
Reminiscent of the end fight in Kickboxer when Van Dame’s brother turned up mid contest and started chanting the words ‘mut su cow’, Pants and baby Ben appeared from nowhere. Knowing that Vales centre half (Will) was maybe in need of the most inspiration, chants of ‘LIL’ were soon heard from the touchline. Revitalised, Will rose highest for the next goal kick and with an emotional shout of ‘LILS’ promptly launched his header straight at Ben!
Chants turned to tears and boo’s from the sideline and the inspiration was done with!
Regardless of the games previous events, Vale continued to push for an equaliser.
It came.
In the form of an own goal!!!
A mix up between their goalkeeper and one of their defenders, resulted in both teams watching the ball role over their goal line to level the scores. Lucky it may have been, but it was no more than we deserved.
Our tails were now up and we set about trying to go one better and take the lead. We clearly wanted it more at this stage and even one of their players was heard shouting at his own team mates, telling them such.
It took us till just after the half hour mark to achieve the above. Pirate broke down the right and hit a cross / shot across the keeper. The keeper got a touch but could only parry it out to Simon who slotted home well with his weaker foot. Two – One Vale!
We started the stronger in the 2nd half also and were unlucky not to be given a penalty in the early stages. The ref however decided something (not quite sure what) and gave a free kick against us. Shortly after our penalty shout we stopped playing the football which had seen us dominate until then, and for some reason became slightly panicky on the ball. As a result neither team created any real chances for the next twenty odd minutes.
The next real chance that did come about was not as a result of good football but from a blunder from their keeper. The ball dropping to Goz who missed an open goal (Please don’t ‘SONIC BOOM’ me for saying that Goz).
The game carried on in the same fashion. A scrappy affair with several free kicks being given against both teams. Maverick hit one free kick well, but couldn’t guide it past the wall. Another free kick saw Simmo step up…..
This time he managed to beat the wall, but not the keeper. The keeper however could not hold onto the ball and Maverick was first to react and make it 3-1.
The game was as good as over, but there was still time to see Thompson get kicked in the balls and for Pascy to go down like a sack of sh*t after getting tapped on the ankles.
Woss came on for the last five minutes and snuffed out a Queens Head attack almost immediately. Wilde was quoted after the game “I get used to covering for Chuff when he wonders up front”!
The whistle went and the points were ours. The players grabbed a drink, had a good laugh at how much Pascy looks like ‘The Hood’ of Thunderbirds and trotted off to get changed. Job done!
After the game, the players went back to The Rose and Crown and did the ratings. The Hood sat next to his new Facebook mate, Simmo!!
The ratings saw three players share the top spot for Man Of The Match, so the 2nd secret vote of the season took place. (I wonder who ‘The Hood’ voted for!)
Maverick won the vote and notched up his 2nd Man Of The Match award this season.
Some players left the pub later than others on this particular Sunday!
