Having just about dried ourselves off from the previous weeks interesting (but very wet) encounter, Croygas locked horns again with Real Dundonald, this time at Croyags Sports Club.
Croygas were still feeling the effects of last weeks game with Reiss' dislocated shoulder ensuring he was unavailable (despite an optimistic early week proclamation of availability), Ray was also unavailable and adding to the additional unavailabiliity of Dave B, Adam and Matt we were looking a little thin on the ground.
The news got better as the week went on with Ach passing a late fitness test and Pistol Pete confirming he and no longer blind with a dodgy hamstring (however you have to think he may still have been suffering from vision issues when he got that haircut that Brad very accurately desribed as Hitler's haircut!). The first teams lack of fixture also ensured that we started the game with 13 + Ken :-).
Gas started with a 4-4-2 with Foghorn in goal, a back 4 of Sam-Hair of Hitler-Jordan-Sailor, a midfield of Jim-Rambo-Garry Fluen-Gary Weller and Zib-Reeno up top. On the bench we had the aforementioned Ken, Ach and new Brad.
From early in the match it became clear why the referee was a) the 4th choice and b) not previously scheudled to have a fixture. He clearly wanted to make sure he had an impact on the game and that is the politest way to put it.
Down to football and Gas flew out of the traps going 2-0 quite early on through and excellent Zib header and a 20 yarder from Reeno.
It was then that the ref decided to get involved, penalising Rambo for a perfectly clean tackle (and booking him for the protest).
It did little to deter Croygas who continued to dominate and added further goals from Reeno & Zib to go into half time 4-0 ahead and cruising.
A half time team talk of not switching off or getting involved with the ref and the team went back out with no changes.
However the Croygas team found it difficult to get going in the second half, and quickly conceded to make it 4-1. Then the referee, clearly feeling that he was having to quiet a second half decided to book Sailor having the temerity to be near their striker as he fell over (and subseqently confirmed this fact to the referee).
Midway through the 2nd half and changes were made with firstly Ken coming on the replace Sailor and new Brad coming on to replace Rambo.
Somewhat against the run of play Zib broke through and made it 5-1 to Croygas and settled the tie. There was still time for us to give away our customary penalty (this time Sam being the culprit for the 3rd time this season) which their striker tucked away very well.
The game sort of petered towards a conclusing with the only real action of note being Garry being relaced by Ach, throwing a sulk on the sideline leading to Zib feeling sorry for him and offering to allow him to play the last 5 mins.
So game over, 5-2 win and a bit more pressure put on the sides around us. Onwards and upwards.
Player Ratings:
Foghorn - Gets an extra mark for the amount of noise he made, otherwise quite a quiet day at the office - 8.5
Sam - Usual dependable self (including in the conceding of a penalty!) - 8
Jordan - Sort of game a CB enjoys...having to do f**k all! - 8
Hair of Hitler - see above - 8
Sailor - Had an extremely good game - 8.5
Jim - Solid - 8
Garry Fluen - Gets an extra .5 for the attempted overhead - 8.5
Rambo - Did the dirty work - 8
Gary Weller - Loses .5 for strop - 7.5
Zib - Hat trick - superb 9.5
Reeno - 5 in 2 since he has gone up top - 9
Subs
Ken - That free kick routine with fleun worth the entry fee - 7
New Brad - Plenty of energy - 7
Ach - see above - 7
