A key game between 2 of the leagues lower placed teams ended with honours even at Becroft Park, where the Tornadoes were looking to end a dismal home start to the season that had seen them ship 11 goals in 2 games without registering one of their own.
The game was action packed although the football was more reminiscent of an 80’s must win FA cup game between 2 lower league teams rather than a Premier League title decider - that said Royce’s key slip in the 21st minute could yet be the team’s Stevie G moment as they battle for survival.
The Tornadoes couldn’t have got off to a worse start. After talking before the game about the importance of a solid defence and not shipping an early goal, it took just 50 seconds for the away side to take the lead. The midfield had been told to blend into the defence early on, but Michal took it a little too literally as a failed clearance by Gene saw the ball ricochet off his shins and into the path of an oncoming Catimba striker who took a neat touch and sent the ball deftly into the bottom right hand corner.
The Tornadoes looked to take control of the game after a shaky start and were a bit more comfortable through the opening exchanges. The long balls started to creep in but with the Catimba defence struggling to clear anything over the top it became clear that this could be a tactic used to good effect.
And so it proved after 14 minutes when Fefe’s long ball was spilled by the advancing keeper for Garth to run through and tap into the empty net. The mistake can in part be attributed to a knock the keeper had taken a few minutes earlier as Dean left his legs in a challenge he was entitled to go for. Whatever caused it, the Tornadoes were level and feeling confident they could push on and look for the lead.
The long balls and through balls continued with varying levels of success but in the 21st minute a headed clearance from Fefe deflected straight off the back of a Catimba midfielder. The ricochet wrong-footed Reece who’s boots gave way and although the ball was tantalising close to being cleared, Birkenhead raced through and put themselves into an undeserved 2-1 lead.
This took the stuffing out of Forrest Hill and the game lumbered forward until Michal released Dean for a great opportunity in the 35th minute. The keeper did well to close down the angle and the attempted shot curled wide and high of the bar. In the 41st minute another through ball released Sasha but his poke across the six yard box found a space bereft of players and the ball trickled harmless out for a goal kick. The final act of the half was left to Sid, who tried to invent a new standing bycicle-kick-cross. Judging by the end result it’s a trend that’s unlikely to catch on. It was summed up by Lulu’s “cut out all the fancy shit” half-time remark which earned Sid the dummy spit from his witty retort of “FUCK OFF LULU”.
The whole of the second half was played as if there were 2 minutes left on the clock and the game was more open than <insert joke about least favourite team mates girlfriend/mum/pet>. Birkenhead looked dangerous on the break striking the post twice and forcing a great double save from Cam that kept the Tornadoes in the hunt. The underside of the bar was hit with the ball possibly crossing the line and Rovers made a spectacular last ditch lunge to deny Birkenhead an open goal.
Tornadoes also had their fair share of chances. Michal’s blistering strike in the 75th minute brought a great save from the Birkenhead keeper and a spinning volley from Royce would have rocketed into the back of the net had it been either side of the keeper. Jamie was put through for a one on one that was hoisted carelessly over the bar and Michal failed to pick out any of his team mates in a 3 on 1 that looked like it could bring about the equaliser.
With the game fizzling out to a home defeat and tensions rising Lee picked up his second card of the season, although this time a more favourable colour and with seconds remaining on the clock Dean was sent careering down the right hand side of the field. Royce was unmarked in the middle but Dean cut it back at a tighter angle finding Jamie arriving in the box. The keeper could only parry the ball into the air, which was sent rocketing towards him with a trail of fire behind it. The ball sailed into the air and it looked like it was flying over, along with the game, but it dropped down centimetres beneath the bar and bounced into the goal, sending the home crowd into a frenzy and ensuring the Tornadoes unbeaten run stretched to a record 2 games. Bays will be concerned about having to play Forrest Hill next week in such red hot form.
Player of the Day - Jamie
Dick of the Day - Deano
Dummy Spit - Sid
