If ever a team didn't need a Manager it's this one. Telling this group of hardened campaigners (including a few who've played at a half decent level) how to play football is akin to teaching Hickman how to make the perfect Dauphinoise (I'll send you the recipe Rog).. However on this occasion, Ecky, who's role can best be described as.. "the only one who can be arsed to send the texts out" ...felt it necessary to focus the troops ahead of a game against a Horsford side who have always given us a very tough time.
The defence were told to be vigilant bearing in mind the speed & quality of the Horsford attack. Dave "Blood & Guts" Sharred was asked to focus his aggression without actually spilling any blood (that didn't work out), a midfield trio of Gilly, Mick & Scott were asked to take control of the game as best they good despite the bobbly pitch & game-spoiling wind. Roger was encouraged to continue his fine run of form but without risking being marched tarred & feathered out of Horsford village on a pole, his popularity in these parts having waned somewhat since the Home game. The referee was asked to check the Horsford players for facial hair bearing in mind the teenagers they fielded last time. Gilly mumbled something about the "Norwich Way" but no-one was really listening, captivated as they were by the Frenchman's stirring words.
The early exchanges were not pretty. The wind & pitch proving to be a real leveller & to be fair the youthful, busy, Horsford midfield made it hard for the Cringleford trio to settle. The away side had difficulty in maintaining possession and seemed to be growing increasingly frustrated at their inability to develop their game. However having Hucks as an outlet is always quite handy & several of his trademark rampages had Horsford panicking, one run ended up with a shot just wide of the post having beaten about 5 players to get into a shooting position. As long as Cringleford could stay solid at the back & get Hucks on the Ball, it was clearly a matter of time...
Now.....every "Not really a proper Manager" needs a "Not a really a proper Assistant Manager" & young Tom Huckerby proved invaluable on the side of the pitch, constantly at Ecky's side whispering pearls of tactical wisdom. It was Tom who pointed out the obvious that the danger was coming from the Horsford No 3 who was getting way too much room to turn & run at our Centre Backs.....some orders were dispatched to Mark & Rudi to mark closer & that seemed to do the job....for the time being. The Home side could have been 2 or 3 up after the opening 20mins...but as we all know "could" is a fairly pointless word in Football....
Cringleford's opener came from a predictable source. Huckerby motoring down the left & serving up Roger on a plate (role reversal!) who somehow scooped it passed the keeper with his left. 0-1 to the Away side.
Soon after.. Hucks suddenly turned up, like Mr Benn, on the right hand side, the keeper came out of his box to close him down, Hucks went round him & from the tightest of angles & about 25 yards out he hit the outside of the right-hand post....Someone in the crowd shouted "He's missed an open Goal!!" which was a little harsh.......but it was kind of an open goal......just saying......The away side 1-0 up at the break (I think)
It was generally felt at half-time that with a more favourable wind, Cringleford would be able to settle & play more of the possession, passing football that is their inimitable style...& this is exactly what happened. Once again Gilly began to run the show, releasing Hucks time after time down the left. Dan on the right hand side was making the most of the attention the left flank was getting & worked really well to get up & down the pitch. The second goal came from another Huckerby Cracker. 0-2 to Cringleford....who now had the wind in their sails.
Cue the wind being knocked out of their sails...The speedy No 3 had given us plenty of warning & soon narrowed the lead with a blistering run down the left & a fine finish off the inside of the post from an impossible angle. 1-2. The Horsford striker was a constant threat & also soon put an end to our favourite Brummie's participation with a collision in the Box which could have been a Penalty to them, a free-Kick to us, a red Card for the Horsford player, who knows?..., no one is really sure as no interpreters were provided in the dressing room afterwards when Dave was explaining what happened.
So as Dave limped off, wheezing like an injured Seal, blood splattered down the iconic Cringleford (sponsered by Last Wine Bar!!!) shirt. Cringleford had to refocus. They did & soon scored the goal of the game. A one-two between Hucks & Hicks, with the return ball from Super-chef bouncing high of the hard Cringleford pitch. Hucks went for the lob, which sailed so high that it briefly looked as if the moon had come out early, It looked certain to soar way beyond the Horsford goal, but suddenly dropped perfectly, bouncing into the roof of the net. 1-3 to the visitors & another 10% on the bill.
A fourth goal from Roger soon came, once again Hucks was the provider...no clear description provided here as this reporter was behind a tree at the time.
A fifth goal saw Hucks bursting through into the box & finishing emphatically in the corner for what was surely the clincher & a well deserved hat-trick.
However... Rudi still had a trick up his sleeve & having given Horsford a Penalty in the Home game, evidently felt equally generous on this occasion, slipping on the Ball allowing Horsford to run through & score passed Richie. 2-5.
The much awaited appearance from Ecky came in the last 15, returning from a knee injury, a dodgy ticker, & general wear & tear, he was keen to make an impact. If the desired impact was to bumble around like an old fool, giving the ball away & falling over then he proved hugely successful. However, in the dying seconds Hucks was flying down the left with Ecky unmarked to his right & clear on goal shouting "Penalty spot!!!!"....Hucks must have heard "6 yard Line" because that's where he put the ball & with so much pace on it that it was impossible for the ageing Frenchman to get there........(that's my story anyway)
A great win in the end for Cringleford who ended up playing some great football in very difficult circumstances against a very good Horsford team who have a quality player in striker Stuart Herd.
In the Bar after came news of the Lynn defeat. Hucks showed that whether it's Mojitos or Cider he likes his drinks Red! The players celebrated a fine victory as the Manchester Derby played out on the big screen....while Ecky was busy filling in his application form for the Knackers Yard.
