Boots were cruelly beaten after an even affair against Fat Cat. After Chibs scored to make it 2-3 with 20 to go, there looked to be another comeback on the cards, but try as they might Boots couldn’t get the all-important third.
Boots lined up in the traditional 4-4-2 formation, with Ash, Brett, Licks and Matt in front of Frumpy, a midfield of Adam, Chibs, Justin and Croz and a front two pairing of Sicky and Patto (that’s correct Sicky up front, not sure how much he paid for that!) The opening was pretty even and Boots looked to have the better of the opposition when playing the ball around and finding space, but Fat Cats constantly looked dangerous from their long throws.
After around 15 mins Fat Cats took the lead following a corner, their striker showing good movement and finishing well with a glancing header at the near post that neither Frumpy or Matt on the line could stop. However, Boots rallied and had a number of half chances, the best falling to Patto after a delightful left-footed cross from Sicky but Patto couldn’t wrap his right foot around the volley and saw it whistle wide. Chibs also had two chances as he raced on to through-balls but his toe-poked efforts were denied by the keeper. At the back the movement of the Fat Cat front two were causing problems but the defence marshalled them well, and Frumpy was off his line to collect up any long balls or put the strikers under enough pressure to drag shots wide. Boots found a way back into the game with their very own Rory Delap (Matt); his throw from the left was headed on by Patto at the front post and Sicky shinned it via a deflection into the bottom corner. Whilst Justin felt it was an O.G. (to ensure he is still joint top goal scorer), the dubious goals panel (me) decided it was on target and therefore a goal! Unfortunately the scoreline didn’t stay level for long following a gigantic throw-in from Fat Cat’s Rory Delap – the long throw looked to be going straight in, but Frumpy was unable to collect and the ball bounced off his hands onto the bar and dropped perfectly for their striker to finish. It was an unfortunate and natural reaction for a keeper to try and save it, and I’m sure we all wouldn’t have had the foresight to have left it, but the half ended with Fat Cat ahead.
In the second half Fat Cat extended the lead following a freekick played into their strikers feet when Boots weren’t switched on. The striker was able to turn and scuff his finish past Frumpy (who was going the wrong way, expecting it to go where the striker was aiming!) Although Chibbert briefly found himself through on goal and Crozier had several free kicks from the right to swing into the box, clear-cut chances were hard to come by for Boots, who began to dominate possession as Fat Cat sat deeper and deeper. Changes were eventually made to bring Bally and Griff on for Patto (although he came back on in the final few mins for Brett to try and get the equaliser) and Adam. Boots’ second came shortly after the substitutions as Bally fed Crozier (now playing on the right) and his right footed (that is correct right footed!) pass found Chibbert through on goal to finish well with 20 to go! As it looked like a grandstand finish and Boots pushed forward, Frumpy was called into action a number of times as Fat Cat broke, one particularly athletic save stands out as he pushed it around the post, to which Licks helpfully informed Frumpy it was going wide! There was still time for Licks to give his customary penalty away (that’s 2 in 2) as their striker was through on goal (Licks at least attempted a football rather than rugby tackle this week and brought him down with a kick and tangle of legs!) The resulting penalty however was ballooned over the bar to keep the score 3-2. In the final moments Boots did have a half chance, a cross from Griff was scuffed by Crozier and it looked to have fallen to Patto but a great tackle put the ball out for a throw and as Matt raced to take it the final whistle was blown to seal Boots’ fate.
Overall there were some definite positives to take out of the game: I felt we were an even match for the opposition (who are third in the league) and were undone by 3 set pieces. In the second half Boots’ defence dealt a lot better with the long throws and aerial challenge (which was their main tactic). Boots played the better football and had more possession, and the only thing that needs improving is creating clear cut chances - there were a lot of half chances, or balls bobbling around in the box, but we didn’t really make the keeper work that hard or produce any impressive saves.
Bring on next week!
Manager Brett has awarded the Man of the Match to Crozier for some good wing-play and passing, and several dangerous set pieces.
