It was never going to be an easy match against Murder on Zidane’s Floor, since joining the league late on they had won both their games comfortably, taking the huge scalp of Johnny Coopers in the process.
Things were made harder by changes to the squad which saw Jack Carter and Morph leave due to ineradicable circumstances. Fortunately, Florist had managed to bring in two quality new signings to replace them in Tom Pattinson and Dale Nally. But, however good the player, as the past has shown us, they will always need time to settle in and for the team to learn how to play with them.
Tonight’s game had the hopes of a club riding on them, a club who have always played fantastic football but have never proven themselves over the course of a season to be the best team, despite, at times probably being just that. The allusive dream of silverware has always been at the heart of Florist, since its primitive days of that cold winter of 2012, when a group of friends joined together to take to the pitch at the Stanley Deason.
Last season’s relegation only made the team more determined to show their true potential, and this season, despite the odd bad result has more than shown that.
Florist lined up against Murder with Mann in goal, Morris and Charlie Carter in defence, an all new midfield of Pattinson and Nally, with Tom Slater leading the line.
The first half was a highly cagey affair, in which neither team really dominated in terms of possession or chances. Despite this, it was probably the finest half of defensive football ever played by Florist, against a team which far surpassed any other outfit Florist has ever paid. Florists have come so far since the defensive disasters of last season, which would have seen them out of this game very quickly.
It would not be implausible to say that Florist maybe even had the better of the first half, failing to convert a couple of half chances, while Murder were limited to forcing one or two saves out of Mann.
Unfortunately, Mann would be tested in the second half a whole lot more, and made a number of decent saves. But as Murder grew into the game showing their class, in the end a good team move, compounded by a rare defensive lapse by James Slater saw Murder take the lead, leaving Mann with no hope.
Florist’s character would be there for all to see, when some great link up play between Nally and Tom Slater, led to a flicked pass from Nally into Slater, whose shot was blocked, only for the Murder defender to fire into his own net and bring Florist level.
Despite Murder scoring the all important first goal of the game, Florist had dragged themselves back into it and after this for a few minutes perhaps even looked the more likely to grab a winner.
But Murder came again, and, this time, were not to be stopped. Another irresistible team move, saw them take the lead again. A huge blow to Florist.
Florist searched for another equaliser, but were once again caught out, when Murder added to their tally. Now Florist really did face an uphill battle.
Heroic defending from nearly all the players on the team wasn’t enough. Nick Morris and James Slater throwed their bodies on the line time and time again, and Tristan Mann even placing his head on the line wasn’t enough.
Florist pushed further forward, leaving huge gaps at the back which Murder capitalised on twice more to make the final scoreline 5-1. Even the sending off of one of their players for violent conduct towards Tom Slater wasn’t enough to aid Florist’s chances.
This really wasn’t a fair representation of the game, which had in truth for most part been a very tight, cagey affair. Unfortunately, against a team of the quality of Murder, they will punish you if you go chasing goals and don’t find them.
With Johnny Coopers beating Orlando Pirates, this means the title dream is no more. However, there is still much to play for. Promotion is still on the cards, and Florist have the chance to do this by beating the Champions and showing their true credentials.
Victory next week will round off a fantastic season, a season in which at one point promotion looked impossible let alone a title race. Florist have done themselves proud and had it not been for one poor performance or not fielding a team one week, perhaps this would have been the season in which they lifted the holy grail.
The team will come again, and will achieve their goal one day.
