In typically damp March conditions, Boots produced an astonishing comeback to claim their second 3-3 draw in a row and earn a deserved point against Inn the Bank. The only changes to personnel from the previous week were the addition of Christian and Simon Hirst to midfield, with Ian moving into attack in Luke’s absence, and Brett replacing Crozier at left back.
Boots struggled to get into the game in the first 20 minutes, and Inn the Bank, who proved a particularly physical and fluid opposition for most of the half, got off to a great start when they switched the ball from one wing to another and their right winger was granted the space to produce a pin-point cross to their unmarked striker (who had floated in between the stretched SuBo and Patto), and his 15 yard header beat Phil at the far post. Boots struggled in midfield as the opposition dominated possession and hassled when they didn’t have the ball, forcing Boots to misplace passes or punt hopeful balls forward. Nevertheless, the ‘punts’ almost worked when Patto played Ian down the left wing, only for his shot to be blocked by the sliding keeper (possibly saving with his hands outside his area?), while Ian also tried his luck from long range, only to shoot over, while a great passing move between Christian and Chibbert ended with Rich moving into the box but shooting millimetres wide as he shot across goal. As Boots fought their way back into possession, a slice of luck and a quality finish allowed Inn the Bank to extend their lead; Chibbert’s backpass to Patto took a horrific deflection off the referee’s ankles, playing in the Bank winger who’d taken a gamble behind Brett. Phil saved the initial lob from the right wing, but a second cross eluded his outstretched hands, and their waiting midfielder produced an overhead kick on the penalty spot that looped over the covering SuBo on the line and plopped under the bar. A third was soon to follow as their physical striker took down a throw from the left wing, and he held off SuBo (illegally?) with his elbows before producing a sharp volley that Phil couldn’t reach at the far post. Just before half time Spence reshuffled the team, with Ash coming on for Griff, and SuBo moved into midfield (Chibbert to left wing, Brett to centre back, Ash to left back). SuBo began to throw his extendable limbs all over the shop, and Boots began to see more of the ball as they carved chances from corners and free kicks, with Brett putting in one particularly nice floated cross that Chibbert eventually fired centimetres wide.
With the wind in their favour and the last 5 minutes of play giving the home team hope, the second half was almost a completely different match as Boots swamped their opponents and passed the ball around with accuracy and determination. After Chibbert had fired a shot over the bar and Ian had tried a daring lob, Boots finally got on the scoresheet when SuBo was felled just outside the area in the centre of the pitch. SuBo took responsibly for the kick and curled a scorching strike around the wall and in off the right-hand post, beating the keeper’s dive. Boots could taste a comeback, and were soon all over the Bank defence as Rich, Chibbert, Christian and Ian were a constant nuisance with Ash and Hawrylak in support. A second soon followed when Rich cut inside and tried an audacious effort from distance with his left foot; the looping shot bounced just in front of the keeper, who dropped his catch in the 6-yard box and allowed the alert Chibbert to slot home a simple finish. Kieran and Sicky replaced Chibbert and Simon, providing fresh legs in a midfield that continued to win the majority of balls from SuBo’s knockdowns. Sicky almost scored a screamer after a one-two in midfield had played him through, while Christian was released on goal only to see his lob sail agonisingly over the bar. Nevertheless, Boots persevered and finally levelled the match after another long, floated free kick from Brett towards the back right post caused panic in their defence, and Sicky helped the dropping ball over the line (with help from the defender) as the keeper and other defenders were too focussed on the lurking SuBo! Boots maybe should have claimed a cheeky winner, but further chances were wasted as Chibbert and Ian both slashed shots across the face of the goal, while SuBo was hauled down in the box, but may have been tackled before he got his shot away.
After a great second half performance from the whole team, Phil G was awarded the Man of the Match award after his first half performance had kept Boots in the game, with one particularly athletic save from a long shot and another one-on-one stop with his legs catching the eye!
EVENING POST:
Well done Sam Buxton!
“Comeback of the muddy day saw Boots Wednesday snatch a point from Inn The Bank after conceding three by half time! Superb efforts from a header, volley and an overhead kick gave Inn the lead but a dramatic second half saw Subo equalise from an unstoppable free kick, Chibbert making it 2-3 with a clinical tap in from Allen’s spilled shot, and finally Buxton poking home late on from Tooby’s brilliant free kick to make it 3-3!”
