Before today’s game all we knew about our opponents was that they were top of our league, had won 3 games on the spin and scored 21 goals in the process. We knew it would be tough, and it looked tougher when we turned up and Baggo recognised a few of their players from his Tonbridge Angels days.
After the news filtered through in the morning that Pat Lawrence had injured himself again and Rob Gardiner still hadn’t recovered from his grazed knee morale in the camp was low, luckily Nice Guy pulled through a late fitness test after a mid week injury problem with his shoulder. This proved pivotal as Dan Harrison turned up smashed after a vodka and Wheetabix breakfast.
Hobbit, playing his last game before leaving for 4months to ‘find himself’ in South America was given the captains armband for the day and a bumper crowd was there to witness the game of the season so far unfold.
Straight from the off the Eden Rangers boys looked well organized and confident and came at us at pace. We were on the back foot.
After 15 minutes a nasty incident saw the Rangers skipper stamp on Baggo as he lay on the floor after challenging for a 50/50 ball, unbelievably this went unpunished as the ref said he didn’t see it. The bright red stud marks on Baggo’s chest and fact that he was rolling on the floor in agony might have offered the official some clue as to what might of happened?!!
Minutes later the retarded inbred was at it again. A long ball up to Gozzy’s feet, he controlled the ball and shielded it with their number 10 up his arse like a dildo in Michael Barrymore’s swimming pool and instead of trying to win the ball he simply grabbed our man round the face and dumped him on the floor. Free kick but still no card.
Hobbit and Gozzy were running their butt’s and guts off up front but with little service and little sight of goal. Gandhi and Kenny were solid as always at the back and a sense of determination and grit started to flow through the team. Neil was sweeping up well at the back and Junior Slade was up and down like a whore in a town house.
Half time 0-0, unfortunately Mr Bayley had to be withdrawn with a groin injury after a great battling performance. He was replaced by Slade Senior.
We were doing ok and had a belief that we could go out and nick a goal, we had the wind this half as well. It was well founded belief as a neat ball from Junior found the Hobbit’s feet 20 yards from goal, he controlled the ball spun and unleashed a shot into the top corner in off the bar 1-0 and the crowd went wild.
We dug our heals in and protected the lead throwing everything we had behind the ball, the blocks were coming thick and fast and some great saves from Nice Guys denied the Rangers an equalizer. We held out until the 89th minutes when a corner resulted in a goal mouth scramble and some how after a great save the ball was forced over the line. Heart Break!
Our heads were down and we looked like beaten men after the 90 but a rallying talk from Neil and some fighting words from Meaty McGammon sent us back out with fire in our bellies. Straight away we were on the attack a good run from Slade and a great cross fell to Piper who fired wide.
Then disaster struck at the other end, a breakaway goal put the Rangers 2-1 up.
Again we had to dig in and find some fighting spirit. It didn’t take the Badger long to make up for his earlier miss, Gozzy and Hobbit combined well in the attacking half before Hobbit squared to Badger who fired low and hard to produce a bulging onion bag.
There was still plenty of drama to come in the final passage of play. We had 15minutes to get back into the game. The tackles were flying in and one tackle in particular sparked another incident involving the brain dead skipper of Eden Rangers. Adam slid in to win a 50/50 ball on the edge of the B&A area and as the Rangers skip stepped over him he decided to stamp on the poor lads had. Earning him a red card and sparking off a scuffle on the pitch.
With the extra man advantage the door was open for us to get back into the game. And it happened Good work from Sladey down the left flank who pulled it back to Harrison and his cross was met with deadly precision by Gozzy. 3-3
And that’s how it stayed. Pens!
Gammon and Piper stepped up and fired home with confidence, Eden Rangers scored then missed one 2-1 to B&A.
Zinger stepped up bravely but dragged it wide of the upright before the the 3rd Rangers man slotted home making it all square.
Gozzy fired his pen hard and fast into the net, and then moved aside to watch Nice Guy Neil save brilliantly to put as back in front.
Up stepped the skipper, the Hobbit, his last kick before he left the country, could this be his destiny, was this kick to be his ‘Ring’ was the Eden Rangers keeper ‘The Evil Wizard from Mordor’ If he scores we win if he misses they’re back in it ……………………….. …………………………..Bang, no mistake from the man with a head big enough to plug the ozone layer, the boys went mad, the crowd went mad and we all shock hands with our valiant opponents, except the fuckwit number 10.
A well deserved victory and the winning streak continues. We celebrated long into the night with some top quality Curry and Beer and later cocktails and dancing at the Gosnell house hold. Great shanting boys and girls, remember next Saturday night, watch out for the spoon………………………………………
