FC BarcaBoneHer’s promotion ambitions took a huge blow on Thursday as they were held to a 2-2 draw against the youthful exuberance of Nepalese United.
With the return of Player/Manager/Captain Josh Sloane and promising academy prospect Simon Waterworth, many considered this to be a must-win/should-win fixture. However despite these returns, the team was rocked with the news that absences and injuries to key players would leave them a player short. Luckily, BarcaBoneHer were able to arrange an emergency loan mere days before the impending contest, drafting in Luke to fill in up front.
The game started in predictable fashion with BarcaBoneHer setting the tempo and controlling possession. Within ten minutes they had already made their dominance count with two early strikes from on-loan talent Luke and Simon Waterworth after a poor goalkeeping display by the oppositions ‘keeper.
It was then, approaching half-time, that the Nepalese adopted alternate tactics, tightening the game up and using their superior energy to frustrate the Boners. After a dire five minutes of minimal chances, the Nepalese shocked the home supporters with a two-minute salvo of goals. The first, a result of fine interplay down the right, saw their star-man drive into the centre and cut a fine strike in the bottom corner. The second, a goal which can only be described as scrappy, saw another long ball pumped up the pitch. Lumbering defender Simon Epps lost the ball in the floodlights which saw a seemingly harmless chance turn in to a goal. With ‘keeper Ryan caught out by the unexpected actions of the usually reliable Epps, the Nepalese striker was able to somehow poke the ball home.
The BarcaBoneHer players cut a dejected look, no more so than injured Darbinho who had to watch the ball trickle over the line, whilst having to resist the temptation to clatter the ball back from where it came.
From then on both sides became sloppy and predictable, with neither team carving out any decent chances. Despite the tremendous industry from ever-present Ben Abbott and a classy display from guest-star Lewis Moore, the Boners could not reignite the slick passing and efficiency of the first ten minutes. One final half-chance in the dying minutes saw Abbott attempt to bundle the ball home from around the sprawling ‘keeper. After accidentally connecting with the ‘keeper instead, Nepalese United became agitated, even aggressive with one defending trying desperately to intimidate the Boners. However after realising his mistake that he was up against much stronger and more imposing players, he quickly backed down.
The full-time whistle was blown with the score resting on 2-2, subjecting both teams to the mid-table blues. The floodlights were quickly shut off and everyone ushered off the pitch. However, it was the lights going out on BarcaBoneHer’s promotion prospect that was all the more impactful.
