Last week we comfortably outclassed a pretty good team - that was good but it can never be great. Last night was great.
When you think of memorable matches it is not the ones where the better team won comfortably it is the ones when a whole series of things come together to allow you to defy the odds. Common ingredients for such games include:
Playing with 10 men Playing a good team Your goalkeeper having a great game All players having a good game A fair bit of luck A few players having a blinder
All of these happened last night and collectively meant that rather than edge it we smashed it.
Starting with 10 men after a late apologised pull out and a no show against a strong pacey Reays side we looked up against it last night. They started pretty well and in what was to become a common theme of much of the first 2/3 of the game created some good chances which were largely sniffed out by some great goalkeeping and some accurate but not lethal finishing. Tyson probably made about 10-15 crucial saves/cross interceptions and while each one was within his ability the fact that he didn't make a mistake and always seemed to be in the right place meant that he was the first of many contenders for man of the match.
Outnumbered and lacking pace upfront with a lonely Latchford, it initially looked like we might struggle to put there defence under too much pressure but we slowly grew into the game. Before long we won a corner and a perfect dipping delivery from Jack saw an easy headed finish from Latchford from 5 yards out in the middle of the goal. They looked shell shocked and were finding it increasingly hard to keep possession following lots of BoC pressure and some hollywood balls/over elaborate flicks. A few times Sheedy showed great commitment to make an interception tackle and soon this led to a second goal as he set up Tom for a good finish.
They'd had all the chances but were 2 nil down. They began to rally and having won the ball from a goal kick burst into the box to pull the deficit back to 2:1. Phew they thought, now they can crack on and win this game as expected. But it was not that sort of night. Jack played a ball through to Latchford who passed inside to the excellent Tom Beardsley who turned neatly held it up before squaring it to Intertoto on the edge of the box, whose calm sidefoot was perfectly placed to go in off the post. Already it was clear that this was to be our night as we went in to half time with our 2 goal lead restored at 3:1.
To compound the sense that this was to be one of those nights Hoff beautifully headed a goalkick to Latchford who, having brought it down an turned his man, proceeded to rifle it into the top left corner from well outside the box past the helpless dimunitive BoC keeper. By now the adrenaline had taken over reason in the mind of Latchford and a left foot drive from 40 yards was lucky to be deflected for a corner when a lung busting run into space on the left by Charlie should have been rewarded with a simple ball putting him in on goal. Proving he didn't hold a grudge shortly later after a good team move Charlie George played a good ball into Latchford in the box allowing him to turn his man and mishit a left foot sho sufficiently for it to lob the keeper off the underside of the bar. Header, right foot left foot - it is known as a perfect hatrick - that was maybe pushing it but it was certainly above average and well out of character.
There was a bit of luck when Reay headed against the bar despite the fact that the attacker was being marked by most of the team and there was time for a late consolation tap in second for their ever popular striker/
Everyone had a good claim for MotM - Tyson in goal, a good defensive unit with Hoof and Steve watertight and our energetic full backs each getting an assist. A great midfield display some great Hoff passing, Jack doing a great job shielding the defence especially in the second half and Tom's hard work, pace and quality on the ball putting them under constant pressure and meaning that Latchford was not too isolated. But really it has to go to Intertoto as he was everywhere - winning the ball back, getting the crucial goal, providing an option and never giving the ball away.
So 7 matches unbeaten for BoC, 6 wins in 7 and 3 on the bounce and a good turn out in the pub.
