Over the course of this season we have had a number of unusual match preparations (some good, some funny and some horrific – reference the corresponding fixture). Yesterday morning has to go down as by far and away the strangest I have ever experienced.
Let’s start with the normal(ish) – a first team night out had resulted in them really struggling to make up a team, luckily for them we had almost a full house (17 players) due to an event I will get move onto shortly. This meant 2 players had to move across so much Kudos to Sailor and Frenchy who made the step and acquitted themselves very well.
I’m sure Adam is going to put something more detailed up about this but the highlight of the pre-match ritual was always going to be Ken (or Kendra as he likes to be called now) completing his forfeit with grace and class (however not knowing the 2nd line to the national anthem used to be a punishable by public hanging?)
Onto the game and Croygas set out with a 4-5-1 formation. Aiden was in goal, a back 4 of Sam-Dave B-Reeno-Adam, and midfield 5 of Brad-Charlie-Dave R-Jim-Gary and Reiss on his own up top.
Dara only began the game with a bare eleven which allowed Gas to get the early ascendency, controlling possession and territory and created a few chances. However in what would later turn out to be quite pivotal we didn’t press home the advantage meaning that when the calvary arrived the score remained 0-0. Even at this point Dara were looking threatening on the break. After a couple of substitutions Dara began to get more of a foothold in the game and it was in one of those breaks that they took the lead. Croygas’ response was good, and although still remaining susceptible to the breakaway managed to level it up. I must confess I didn’t see too much of the build-up as I was off having a piss but I was that a through was put through to Reiss (which I am assured by Jim was his pass) who tucked the ball away excellently to make it 1-1.
Half time and it was 1-1 and any bodies game, the start of the second half would be a crucial period and unfortunately for us (others may use a different term here!) we didn’t come out with the same intensity and purpose. Without going into too much detail we allowed the key players for Dara far too much time and space on the ball, and when you do this you are likely to get punished. 3 more goals to Dara had put them 4-1 ahead and the game appeared out of sight. It is worth noting here that at 2-1 and in what was a rare foray forward Reeno had placed an excellent header into the top corner which was very much wrongly ruled out for offside, however seeing as we gave them 3 the other way we shouldn’t dwell on this.
At 4-1 changes were made, Pete came on for Brad, Kendra for Sam and Jordan for Charlie. We began to get back into the game a bit (although some of that was Dara dropping off a bit) and began to force our way back into the game.
A couple of chances had also gone begging when Jim picked the ball up 25-30 yards out. In recent weeks he hasn’t really been troubling the keeper with these but on this occasion he (finally J) managed to get hold of one that flew into the back of the net to make it 4-2.
Next thing we know it is 4-3 as a Gary corner results in a scramble that Adam tucks in. Back in the game and just one more effort…or so we thought. Almost straight from the kick off a soft free kick is given away midway in our own half. The ball is played into our box, our defenders watch as the Dara players attack the ball and tuck it way to make the score 5-3. Unacceptable on most occasions; inexcusable given the match situation and the previous weeks training.
To be honest from that point onwards we were lucky to score didn’t get any worse and it was only Aiden with a couple of excellent one on one saves that kept the score at 5.
So the final whistle blew, a 5-3 defeat and one that was of our own creation. We know that we can’t give good players that much time on the ball, yet we let our intensity drop.
A big frustration for this observer is our complete inability to organise it so that when we get a corner, we have both Reeno & Dave B up in the box together. The first time we did it (and this was after instructions from the side) was the corner that ended up with Reeno’s disallowed goal. As individuals on that pitch we need to address this, we should want both of them in the box at the same time yet we seem incapable of organising it as such. I pose the suggestion that individuals are putting personal glory ahead of the team. Food for thought and rant over!
Time now to hopefully learn these lessons and move on. I leave you with a very sobering thought…..the highlight on 18 men’s Sunday morning was Ken in a dress….may this never be the case again!!!!!
Player Ratings:
Aiden – Was left exposed at time, kept the score down 7
Sam – Battled hard as always – 6.5
Dave B – Had a difficult time with runners coming at him but still defended well – 6.5
Reeno – Should have a goal too his name, MOTM contender – 7.5
Adam – 2 in 2 now, another battling performance – 7.2
Brad – Created a couple of chances, went close with a couple himself. Has a row with a mum! – 6.5
Jim – Excellent strike plus an assist just tipped MOTM his way ahead of Reeno – 7.7
Dave R – Was superb in the DM role in the first 20 mins, Dara took over after that – 6.9
Charlie – Composed on the ball – 6.5
Gary – Assist for a 3rd goal, worked hard down the left - 6.9
Reiss – Ploughed a lone furrow. Great finish and put in a shift for the team – 7
Subs:
Pete – Solid – 6
Jordan – Was actually here! – 6
Ken – Gets an extra .5 for having the bollock to do that forfeit – 6.5.
