On a chilly, windswept morning the boys gathered with usual lethargy in The Thorpe High school Car-park. Bad news! The formidable strike partnership of Fairman and Dewing was unavailable. It was as the disappointed players were digesting this bombshell that out of the misty horizon, like in a spaghetti western, stepped a tall, lean gun-slinger and his steely-eyed partner. Two hot-shots were in town and there was gonna be some fire-works. Somewhere in the distance someone whistled some Ennio Morricone.
An awkward silence hung over the dressing room with Cringleford players unsure whether to greet the new arrivals with a customary handshake and slap on the back, or with an autograph book. Dan Barnston had to resist the temptation of taking a picture of the naked Mr Roberts for fear of legal reprisals.
The opposition management showed incredible psychic powers when asked to verify the new signings. On seeing the name Darren Eadie on the first form, his words were as follows “Darren F****** Eadie!? Who’s the other one, Iwan Roberts?”…Genius.
The game was underway with a lot of pointing, pinching oneselves and some nervous early passing. Messrs Eadie and Roberts query the previous night on what to do when we were 5-0 up after 10 minutes was proving to be a slightly over-ambitious prognostic, and despite some great early chances for Potter and Eadie (we’ll blame the treacherous wind….not Potter’s, Nature’s) Sprowston scored early on, Cringleford once again conceding from a poorly defended corner.
This seemed to be the wake-up call that the Vets needed and soon after, as we have seen so often this season, Barnston tore down the right wing and delivered the perfect cross to the far post. Grown men were seen to be weeping with nostalgic joy as the jolly gapped tooth giant rose at the far post and burst the net with a trade-mark bullet header. Barnston accepted Iwan’s recognition of the assist with a high-five and an expression of genuine love.
The Cringleford boys began to assert their superiority with some great delicate footwork from Eadie whose touch, precision and passing with that legendary left foot shows how at just 36, he could still have been the left-sided player that England have forever craved. Iwan’s performance was a lesson in simplicity, always a target, one touch and pass, never gave away possession.
The deserved goal came from a Barnston corner, a great save from the Sprowston keeper from a Simon Nicholls header fell to main man Izzard who finished comfortably. 2 – 1 to Cringleford at Half-time.
With the difficulty in finding the right motivational words in the presence of such greatness it was left to Iwan Roberts to stir the troops, and to reprimand our defenders for constantly trying to play out of defence and giving the ball away. Our sorry-faced defenders shuffled about a bit and stared at their boots as though they had just been told off for stealing from the school tuck shop.
Due to the great clamour and insistence of an increasingly impatient crowd, the mercurial Frenchman Ecky Limon came on for the 2nd half. The game became somewhat messy. These 2 events were of course not necessarily related. Big gaps between the lines, and sloppy passing meant that although not really in danger Cringleford were losing grip. Until, an eye of the needle pass from Eadie found Ecky who out-paced 2 defenders down the left flank and sent in a cross which was deflected out to Mick Sanders, who with customary ease and coolness, steered a gliding ball into the bottom left hand corner. 3-1.
Ecky’s last action before once again sacrificing himself for the greater cause was to set up, albeit somewhat fortunately, Izzard for a stylishly taken second goal and another Man of the Match award in the bag.
A late goal for Sprowston was never going to affect the result and The Vets walked heroically off the pitch with a great 4-2 victory over an unbeaten side that had up until now only conceded 1 goal all season.
What a great game and what a treat for both sides, Eadie and Roberts showing true class both on and off the pitch. The Cringleford boys pondered on whether we would see the two legends again. A couple of Shandys and a cheese and pickle sandwich later and the two amigos walked slowly off into the sunset…..who knows.
