BA Sunday played Currans for the second time in three weeks confident of extending their recent run of good form.
For the first time this season the management team had the luxury of naming an unchanged side and with the new found commitment from the boys yet again BA had the full complement of substitutes. Things most certainly are on the up and competition for places is strong.
Currans kicked off on a cloudy damp Sunday morning. Immediately it was clear that they had strengthened their side since the last game in particular the defence was a lot stronger. That said BA still had the majority of possession in the early stages without ever looking dangerous. As the half progressed the standard of football declined, with numerous passes from both sides going astray and neither team seemingly wanting to take the initiative.
It must have been one of the worst games of football ever to watch and the half time whistle came as welcome relief for all concerned, except the Currans centre forward who came off the field to a right hook from the Currans manager, and I thought he had played quite well!! 0-0 and all to play for.
BA kicked off the second half with new instructions of moving the ball more quickly and working harder. Despite all agreeing this was the way to go, the game slipped back into the same pattern as the first half.
After 60 minutes the game, fortunately for the supporters, livened up. Whitey ran down the right hand side, beat one defender and smashed a low shot towards goal, the Currans keeper could only parry and Kingy reacted quickest to nod the ball into the net, yet another header he heard some of the supporters say, BA had the lead.
Normally when teams concede their heads drop giving the winning team new impetus to go and win the game. In this instance the opposite occurred. Currans were suddenly up for the game and BA thought that now that they had scored it was game over.
BA's change of mental state had let Currans back in, corner followed corner and it was no surprise when an equaliser came. A cross from the right was not cleared by BA, despite having 3 separate chances to clear, and the Currans forward showed BA how to do it by putting his foot through the ball and it flew into the top of the net.
If Currans improved from going behind they positively were on fire once they had equalised. Chance after chance followed as BA's defence forgot how to defend. Finally the Currans forward broke through the middle of BA's back four and ran in on goal and shot, fortunately for him the shot bounced off the keepers legs and back into his path and he rolled into an empty net. BA were behind.
Two minutes later the game was as good as gone for BA. This time another melee in the BA box resulted in the keeper holding onto the Currans forward whilst on the ground and a penalty awarded. There was strong suspicion that the keeper had initially been fouled but the ref disagreed and a penalty awarded. Despite missing one in the previous game the Currans player showed no ill affects of that miss and dispatched the ball down the centre of the goal for a three one lead.
Now at three one the reserve psychology happened to BA, many players thought game over now, lets just play for fun, no pressure. As if by magic the football improved, people were working harder and suddenly BA looked dangerous. Another good break down the right led to a cross in that hit the defenders hand in the box and BA had a penalty and a way back into the game. Tyler stepped up and dispatched the ball into the net for 3-2.
It was all BA pressure now with time being the only constraint for an equaliser. A good move developed again down the right hand side, Stu Trig was played in behind the Currans back four, the first time in 88 minutes this had happened, and he pulled the ball back for Kingy to finish majestically for 3-3 and his 8th goal of the season. BA had got out of jail.
The ref quickly blew for full time and BA came off feeling gutted that they had not won, but also feeling ecstatic that they had somehow gained a point.
The BA team need to start thinking about what they add to the team as individuals, too many players look around at others and HOPE they can pull something out of nowhere rather than thinking about what they can do themselves to make things happen. Overall another unbeaten game and with results going for BA the league title bid is still a possibility.
Massive game next week at home to Northolt Sports who are currently 3 wins from 3.
