Gators Snap Out of Cup
The dream of lifting the Junior cup at Wembley in May sadly came to an end last Saturday, as the Heslerton Hyenas came to town and ran out deserved 4-Neil victors.
Team Gaffer; Jose Pluminho had to make late adjustments to the side, with usual first team veteran Phil Wignall and former Westover Wasp Danny Bywater both arriving late from work.
The Gator’s were itching for soccer as they all turned up to the encounter buzzing and full of energy. Pluminho swiftly put them through their paces with a new fun for all the family team warm up. Goal tender David Theodore Pickard said “To be fair, this has got to be one of the most funnest bestest footy days of my whole life, having a warm up with all my friends was great.” Pickard added whilst excitedly clapping “When Mole hid behind the tractor shed during blocky 1 2 3 I thought he was being a real tinker, im glad I got him out in the end though to be the champion!”.
The reshuffled back 4 of Paterson, Holden, P.Pickard and Ellis flexed their muscles and performed the Gators version of the Haka in an attempt to strike fear in to the Beckett League Hyenas. Sadly it had no effect. Temple was scene in tears making his way in to the ladies toilets as the loud noises and shouting all got a bit much for him on the side lines however!
The early knocking proved to be fruitful for the Scarborough league based side as they began brightly, making use of their extra man in the middle. J.Ward sent a sizzling through ball that released Wallace 1 on 1 only for the fat referee to pull the play back as in his world, it was offside! Ward was furious, there was no chance of an offside and this was backed up by the Hyena’s lino who indeed confirmed the ref had dropped a bollock with a shocker of a decision.
How decisions change games as in a matter of minutes the Gator’s found themselves a point down as Heslerton skipped down the right, centred in to the 6 yard zone for a simple tap in past D.Pickard. It was a poor goal to concede with the Gator’s outnumbering the Hyenas by a larger margin at the back.
If the Alligators confidence wasn’t low enough already after the two defeats on the spin, it was now and it was showing. Tension was running through the team as players tensed up more than Stubbings down the gym during a body talk sesh with Mr Motivator. Touches went astray, passes found the crowd and it generally was all going Peter Tong as Heslerton took the bull by the horns and pushed on.
Another incisive attack in the Gators 18 yard zone saw Holden attempt a flying scissor kung fu attack on the onrushing Hyena striker. Holden nailed him as blood gushed in to the air. It was a penalty strike.
Pickard looked down the barrel of the Hyena hitman’s right boot, could he think of some way of putting him off….? Pickard let out a war cry “sha moooan” he cried as he moonwalked along his goal line Jacko stylie. Pickard turned and clasped the strike with both hands and saving the day for the Gators as the crowd cheered and waved in excitement.
On 30 minutens the score went to 2-Neil as a quick Hyena attack down the Gator’s right saw a swinging cross find the feet of a burly front man. Plumpton rushed in and uted the tackle, felling the forward like a lumberjack in Dolby Forest. The ball ran free 4 yards out, D.Pickard pondered….. Do I have egg sarnies or bacon for tea? It was too late, the forward rose the fastest from the deck and slammed home to a chorus of boos led by no 1 fan John Hick, who also vented his disgust with a cutely made banner stating “Gator’s you are poo”.
Half Time
Ayton Alligators (Neil) v (Two) Heslerton Hyenas
Pluminho made a change at half time as Wallace was withdrew after making little impact after his recent cold and sniffles. On came Bywater after returning from his morning shift as local rent boy at Utopia, Sherburn.
A resurgent Gator’s now in the 442 formation grabbed themselves a corner. Jamie Tyler whipped home his trademark curly wurly corner kick which was met by the ferocious heading beast that is; Phil Holden.
Holden unleashed the bomb as his header crashed back off the bar; with it Gator’s best chance of the game came and went. A great leap by the facial hairy centre half as he was unlucky not to notch.
The Gatorade@Wilson’s Lane based outfit began to push harder than Heather from Eastenders during child birth and were sadly caught a little short at the back, which had nothing to do with Plumpton’s height!
A long ball swept through the back line and was finished with aplomb to make the score 3-neil, which was rather against the run of play.
Off went Jamie Tyler to be replaced by Thomas, likewise Wignall for Mawer as Pluminho looked for a miracle substitution to turn the tide.
Sadly it went from bad to worse as a simple back post tap in on 65 minutes made the scores 4-Neil, leaving the Gator’s on their knees begging for mercy.
A late rally on 80 minutes saw Jedd Ward go through only to strike straight at the Hyena keeper and Wignall fired a terrific strike that was again tipped over from fully 25 yards.
The menacing Shaun Topham who was one of few Gator’s to leave with some credit after the game found himself in a great position down the right only to slice his cross behind the net which signalled the end to a miserable day.
It was the first game the Gator’s had failed to score this season as Pluminho was left with more questions than answers. With the team failing to gel in key positions will sweeping changes be made before the next encounter? Is the answer transfer activity to save the season? And who really did kill Archie Mitchell??? Find out next week in Gator’s News…
MOM touchline commentator pairing Andy Hray and Martin Ryler gave the award to Holden for a bruteful display
