A repeat of last week’s fixture, again on paper an easy win. A few changes were made to the starting 11 with Hathaway being relegated to the reserves, Bayley being called away on important Government business and ferg attending his alcoholic’s anonymous meeting. Also Merv was not 100% fit and dropped to the bench.
It wasn't all doom and gloom however as we welcomed back Eugene, Slug, Meat, Adam, Gandhi and Zinger.
We started the game where we'd left off last week and were 2 up with in the 1st 20 minutes, courtesy of the Hobbit (at the 2nd time of asking!) and Baggo after a pin point through ball from Gozzy in his make shift role as midfield general.
We were really tearing in to the them, Baggo and Gozzy were combining well and Roselands just couldn't deal with them. But we failed to make the pressure pay and didn't put the game to bed. A lesson we should have learnt by now! As the standard of football deteriorated the inevitable happened and we conceded. Minutes later however we restored the 2 goal cushion, left back Harrison was pushing forward and played a lovely through ball to Gozzy who was like a coiled spring ready to burst into life. He turned, rounded the keeper and slotted her home.
But again we let them back into the game and the half ended 3-2.
Pervo Woolgar making his 1st start of the season was battling hard at centre back and had the scars to prove it as he came off at half time with blood pouring from his nose and left knee. What a hero!
The Gaffer made a change at half time replacing Eugene with Shaggy who was making his comeback after a year on the sidelines following a nasty knee injury last term.
We battled our way through the half still not quite playing the football we are capable of but doing enough to keep our noses in front. Kenny replaced Piper early in the half and set about his usual job in the back 4 and giving their centre forward a good going over at every possible opportunity.
Baggo broke free down the left flank and played in a lovely ball for Hobbit to grab his 2nd and restore the buffer (which was need as we conceded again minutes later, again through slack defending) Hobbit was then replaced by Robbie G aka the Slug aka Quinny. Who did a sterling job up front holding the ball up and generally being a pain in the arse for Roselands back four.
Woolgar, now playing in Centre mid set up Gozzy for his 2nd and our 5th with a great looping header over the Roselands centre back to make it 5-3.
There was still time for us to concede another shite goal and it ended 5-4. A few lessons to be learnt out there today, but to finish on a positive note, a wise man said to me recently that the teams that win titles are the one who can play badly and still get a result. Food for thought!
