So , Grappenhall Veterans turned up at Clay Lane Burtonwood for a bottom of the league decider. A six pointer, but a strong squad. Memories of a close 2-2 draw in a slightly niggly friendly with them before they joined the league. A BEEYOOTIFUL day.
First signs of unease in the dressing room when O’Donnell announced that he had been teetotal Saturday night……Furrowed brows and mutterings of concern; we’ve never seen him play totally sober. What would the experience be like? – the usual joy of an O’Donnell in full flight is that no-one knows (not even the man himself) what is about to happen next.
Onto the pitch which, despite the local Councils attempts at repair , still looked like the local ploughing championships had just been held there. Simple passes in the warm up ricocheted off shins and even shoulders. Not a day for the pretty stuff – no passes square across the back four – play it in the final third and get rid at the back.
Razor set the tone at the kick off – a pass smashed to Quentin from 20 yards which bounced just in front of him, crashed into his shin and cannoned off….Thanks Bud ! Stalemate for the first 20 or so – some nervy stuff and not much quality on show. Then Junior wriggled free on the left and put in cross which seemed just a little long . O’ Donnell onto it and first to the breakdown to whack it into the net. 1-0. Tails up , we started to play a bit better. Incredibly, just 10 minutes later O’Donnell put us 2-0 up with a strike of real quality – can’t remember who got the assist , but there was still a lot to do when the ball reached Will. He hit it and the net bulged. Woo-hoo! Real quality goal.
Unfortnately , we couldn’t consolidate . They kept on coming at us and we got a little sloppy – too many free kicks given away in our third and eventually they scored a nice goal. 2-1. The half time whistle went.
A stiff talking to from PEM…………. But we couldn’t shake off the lethargy and although we had some chances the goal that seemed certain to put the game to bed just would not come. Quent again tireless, Mike Iliff neat and lots of huff and puff, but nothing. Then, a bit out of nothing , Hout latched onto a parried clearance and forced the goal to take us to 3-1. Job done , or so we thought. It lasted all of 2 minutes. Their number 11 out “Delapping” Rory fired in a throw from the touchline. Incredibly it wasn’t dropping until the penalty spot where a well timed header bulged our net. Worse to come and 10 minutes later they were level. Again , too many free kicks conceded in our third and one which caused us problems fell to an orange shirt in the six yard box. 3-3.
Deflated , it looked as if the three points were going . Heads down , we tried to get back in to the game. The return of O’Donnel critical. A ball part cleared about 35 yards out fell to him. The trusty right foot back and a solid connection propelled it goalwards. Those of us at the back had time to wonder if it was a clearance or a shot, but as it homed in on target it didn’t matter what it was! Their goalkeeper , backpedalling furiously couldn’t get to it and , gloriously, it fell over the line………………. Stunned silence from all. Did he mean it – it looked as if he had?? It took a few moments to sink in. Even Will forgot to remove for a few seconds to rip the shirt off and reveal the Ronaldoesque pectorals and Roy Chubby Brown midriff!!! A hat-trick and we were very happy to present him with the match ball as it was theirs.
So, there it ended although not before Quent and Hout had a bit of a dust off with their right back. Handbags and cards all round. 4-3 . Relegation decider our way. The Irish RFU has BOD and Grappenhall Vets had WOD. Simples!
Onward and upwards – not so many free kicks next week!
Dr Ian Mecrow
