Revenge is a dish best served hot! or something like that, so the saying goes!
Anyway, it was back to the league and a chance to return the result against last weeks cup winners, Goostrey Sharks. From what i was told the Tigers needed to up their performance from last week if they were going to get anything out of this game, and to a man, they did just that!
2 missing today, Matt and Sam, so with 9 in the squad, we started with Kai, Alex and Mark, midfield of Ben, Arron and Bryan with Max playing up front. Lol and Ben Hin would come on in the second period.
Reverting back to the 'old' formation, the first period kicked off with some solid play from the Tigers, plenty of good work in Midfield from Ben, Arron and matt, Max was holding the ball superbly and Alex and Mark playing excellent together, with one in front of the other.
Kai was called on to make 2 good saves as Goostrey, did get the odd shot away, Arron got the ball into Max whose shot was saved, Mark put in a great corner but no Tigers player could get on the end of it.
Betley forced another couple of corners but the game was predominatley being played out in midfield, with Mark doing a brilliant job mopping up all loose balls flying out of it. End of first period and the score 0 - 0.
Second period, and Lol gave Alex a deserved rest, Alex's concentration had been just superb, and Ben Hin came on the left for Ben to take a break.
Max and Marks passing was making good progress, but out of the blue in the 14th minute following another Betley corner, Goostrey broke clear and shot up the other end of the pitch and a good team move saw them shoot pass Kai to go 1 - 0 up, was this to be a repeat of last week?
To the teams credit, they didn't panic, they all tried to carry on passing, using what they had been taught in training the previous day, Bryan had a good shot saved, Max went close, and in the 22nd minute, hard work got us back in it, Bryan did not give up on a long ball from Mark and chased it all the way back towards the Goostrey keeper, who in a rushed panic, allowed a back pass to slip under him, 1 - 1. An own goal but deserved for the Tigers.
3rd period, and Alex back on for Mark, who had been excellent, Ben came on for the unselfish Max. It was now all about Betley and whether they could go on and win, Great pressure from Ben saw Bryan shot wide, another long run from his own area saw Bryan deliver a cross that just missed Arron and Ben.
With 5 minutes to go, Mark was back on the Left for Bryan, who had taken a knock to the shin, Max back on for Ben Hin as Tigers tried desperately to get a deserved winner.
Mark had a fantastic storming bustling run up the left and hammered a shot which was well saved, corner was scrambled away! Ben played Max clean through but again Goostrey keeper saved with his legs! another Mark shot! saved!
There was to be no winner as the game ended 1 - 1 but the team were magnificent and on another day, would of beaten anyone in this league. Well done for coming back after a poor display last week, and lets now go on and finish the season on some high notes.
Mark got MOM today, he was outstanding in that favourite position of his, but it was a great, great team working performance by everyone.
