What an amazing turn around from the previous week.
After exhausting googlemaps, tfl and taxi numbers we eventually had 10 players ready for a delayed kick off at 2.15, both teams being let down by transport. 10 players I hear youn say, isnt it eleven a side. Yes it is. so we started the game against championship winning contenders with 10 men because someone who shall remained nameless but played left wing if you want to look at the team sheet and start giving him the appropriate grief for getting lost in the trees in the park.
after a very ggod warm up with plenty of talking and quick short passing everyone started the game with a feel for the ball. the focus for this game was simple. we are good with the ball, shit without it. play with some belief and keep the ball, they cant score if they dont have it.
with Zack finally making up the full complement of n11 players, shit given away who the culprit was and a very deserving wally of the week winner we passed the ball around with excellent movement and ball retention and recycling.
we fell behind to a poor goal mouth scramble which could have been cleared but thems the breaks. the back 4 played with great strength and skill against a mike tyson lookalike who despit the frequent trips to burger king has a great touch, unparralelled strenghth and surprising pace. our back 4 played with great strength and positioning all match and any of them could have recieved the man of the match award.
10 minutes into the game captain courageous kicked their centre back as the ball was nicked away from me whilst shooting, breaking my big toe in the process. of course to any sensible mere mortal this may have stopped you from playing and competing, not stupid james though. Greg will be taking over captaincy in my absence as i am now looking at an 8 week lay off.
start of the second half and after all the talk being about keeping everything the same and we kicked off, lost the ball, striker put through and boycie almost pulled off a blinding on rushing save but it just crept under the bar. good quick start to the second half.
the second half carried on the same as the first, we showed great composure on the ball, great passing, great movement and because of this renewed belief in each other we kept the ball well, created good attacking opportunities and didnt spend our time chasing the game without the ball. we equalised through a great dead ball in swinger from the left touchline which left the goal keeper expecting a touch from us but eluded him anyway as it went sdtraight in. 2 goals now to cap of another great dislay for Ed from centre mid.
with minutes remaining we had chances to win it, most notably andy with a contender for worst miss of the season. from a little dinked cross by zach after amar had forgotten to pull the trigger in a one on one he mis controlled the floated pass and the chance went astray. he later blamed his lack of touch on a poorly strapped up sprained ankle? the phrase grow a pair springs to mind, not even broken!!!
all in all boys a great return to form from every player, keep things going like that all season and we will do very well. remember that we need to play with belief and trust our ability and we will do brilliantly. for me the most pleasing thing was that when we went down we carried on playing the same way and turned it around.
keep the ball and play football, talk and dont lose your heads and we could do some damage this year.
oh and can we keep everyone fit, no pulled muscles or knob not from the boat party
