Another day. Another Diego penalty. Another Frow victory over Lindfield.
The dust had barely settled from our 2-1 away win to the Swans, when there they were – the Lindfield gents, training on our pitch from 10am. Looking for revenge.
Their cackles of laughter sent shivers down our spines, as they played a menacing game of keepy uppy. Meanwhile, Gardner had barely wiped the vodka mixer from his mouth…
The blurry eyed giant was still pissed. He knew full well he had a big 90 minutes ahead of him, defending the long ball and Rory Delap’s throw ins.
This was also the day for Big Ron’s return. Caretaker Irwin had left the team in perfect nick, with a formation change and 7 points from 9. The gaffer duly put the injured skipper in his place, handing him the linesman flag and asking for a Snickers. Ron was bronzed from his week in Spain, sporting a gold medallion and a tash to match. The big man was back.
We decided to stick with the 4-3-3, hoping to spring an element of surprise on our visitors. It was the perfect game for Caiger to start and to push Gil further up. Gil had given their fullback nightmares at the start of the month, and the lad looked a worryingly, pale white on Saturday.
The first 20 minutes belonged to Lindfield. They peppered us and scored a goal correctly disallowed for offside, by the excellently observant linesman. We seemed bereft of ideas when on the ball and couldn’t find the outlet to counter. We encouraged Gil and Messi-Monnery to stick out as wide as possible, and it paid off.
Another clearance this time found Monnery wide out on the left, by the halfway line. With his back to goal, he used the outside of his left boot for an audacious flick, nutmegging the defender and spinning to attack the open space. Sprinting to his right was Gilly, in his absolute element. Monnery squared it and suddenly we were through on goal. Out came the goalkeeper and Gil skipped past as if he wasn’t there. But he was, because he clattered him.
Lindfield protested but it was all in vein. The keeper wasn’t carded because this is the MSFL and no one wants their Saturday ruined. So we decided to let him play, as the honourable Fran Garcia pleaded with the referee to let him stay on the pitch and enjoy the day. It was sportsmanship personified. A class act.
Diego then did what he does best. He scored a penalty. To be fair, it was a beautiful pen, smashed into the top left hand corner. 1-0 and before we knew it the Pavilion started reverberating with cries of "It's happening again".
And so it did, with Frow absolutely bossing the remainder of the first half.
The second 45 was as tough as we expected. We didn’t exactly park the bus. We parked it, but kept the engine running. We were still massively dangerous on the counter, and Messi-Monnery was having a fucking field day.
Caiger was also in his element in his first start for the club, holding the ball up expertly and working his socks off.
We continued to defend, throwing bodies on the line and having the odd dangerous counter. It felt like we could have played another 90 minutes and they wouldn’t score – something they’d probably agree with.
The closest they came was smashing a ball from 5 yards out into one of our players. There were squeals of protest for handball, and by that I mean proper squeals. Their number 4 sounded like a constipated warthog, with a high pitched scream and saliva flying everywhere. He was frothing at the mouth.
You couldn't help but feel a little sorry for Lindfield in this case. We've all been there - peppering the bollocks out of the opposition but to no avail.
After the game, social media went mental. Lindfield Fan TV showed in-fighting in the stands, with one Swans fan screaming "We shouldn't have done the bus fam! We shouldn't have done the fucking bus!" He was dragged away by their Chairman in a rather aggressive looking headlock.
To summarise, this was a dog fight that we were more up for winning, more motivated, more committed. Stevens dominated his area and the back 4 were superb as usual. Garcia's Spanish contemporaries would turn away in disgust after seeing how many headers he won. There was no tikka takka on Saturday.
Whatever happens in the run in, we'll look back on this season with fondness. Memories of last May now all but banished, as we send the Swans packing and congratulate them on their pending title win.
#UpTheFrow
