Hi Guys,
Where do I start!! – this is the kind of game we all love to play in and will remember for a long time. A cracker!
I suspected early in the week that we may struggle for numbers due to hols/injuries and so I started the ‘availability emails’ early. We got up to 12 but alas had a couple of last minute drop outs. Fear not, Barry (from Wednesday Night Footy) steps up and as a bonus offers his brother as well. Not strictly legal as not registered but hey! Thanks to Norm for making the connections.
So we meet up at Grappenhall Club and set off down the motorway – 5 minutes later – gridlock. Big crash and 3 lanes blocked. Oh Sh*t!. So I ring the opposing Manager to tell him we will be late and he was fine. We did not move for 25 minutes so I rang him again - not so fine. Another 10 mins and we are off.
We eventually get to Mobberley’s ground to meet their team who have been sitting around for a while and it’s raining, but everyone is in good spirit and its seems like they are a decent bunch of lads (Except for a chap called ‘Sooty’ who we have some history with - when he played for Bollington some years ago when he got sent off after 2 minutes! Anyway, we get changed (in the dark- lights out) and get out for a warm up.
Team – Martin, Barry, Me, Aaron, Tok, Mike I, Junior, Ealsey, Will, Hout and Richard – Sub John (Barry’s brother)
Off we go, spirit good as it was against Stepping Hill and some useful early moves. Not a bad team Mobberley, some good players and a guy in the middle called ‘Gaffer’ – he controlled their play and even ‘Sooty’ was behaving himself. Some good pressure from them early on bit we look really dangerous up front and Junior is having a blinder in the middle. Not long after Hout works his magic and sends one of their defenders the wrong way and slots a fantastic goal in – 1-0! The game swings our way some more as they are nervous about our goal threat. More attempts on goal by us – Ealsey just misses a header from a great pass by Will and Richard just misses another – great running though. Mike Iliff hassling and hurrying and breaking down their play.
The game pursues and is actually quite even. Junior linking up with Tok well and working his socks off. Ealsey and Will getting down the flanks and Hout and Richard are putting a real shift in – passion and determination – love it! The back looks ok – Aaron puts in some great intercepts and headers and Martin a couple of great stops. Barry put in a few good interceptions to. And then they break away and put a 25 shot in to score – bugger – 1-1. We re-group and push on – Their tails up again and its starts getting interesting. The pitch is heavy and wet and they are able to play some subs - we only had Barry’s brother who had not played 11 a side for 15 years but he worked hard and played some decent football. They break again and get another - B*llocks – 2-1.
But here is where we see the real character of this team and particularly in the last two games – this passion and ‘never say die’ spirit. Soon after, Richard, gets the ball outside their box and smashes in a shot across their goal 2-2! Crikey – we have our own SAS upfront (I know H+R is different but I don’t care).
Middle of the second half and legs are getting heavy and everyone is knackered. Junior takes a bad tackle and hobbles off. Turns out he will not come back on. Richard pulls his groin as well and cannot run so we are down to 10 but we are still at it. Full time comes, a few handshakes and a great game – but wait! This is a cup game so it’s into extra time!
We start the first period - Injuries are catching up with us and the make shift team is straining a little. We are fighting and still trying and we get to the second period. A few chances and they have a couple as we head to the finale. We were under the cosh for the last 10. Martin pulls off some great saves. We try and break up front but we are under pressure. The last minute sees a free kick – the last chance of the game. Ball comes in through 3 players and Martin ( Who I think was unsighted) cannot get to it – 3-2 at the death.
It sounds bad but it wasn’t. We had put a make shift team together and we put up a real battle. It was a great game in truth and the opposition said the same. Everyone was knackered at the end – a 120 minute run out on a heavy pitch.
I really fancy us with a full strength team at our place and guess what – they have to come to us later in the season and Macclesfield will not relish that ;-)
I think everyone in the team deserves credit for their performance but I will say that Junior was the MOM for me and Hout a very close second (They gave it to Aaron). Big credit to Richard for staying on the pitch when he couldn’t run through injury and for the efforts of Will and Tok who are coming back from Injury. Also, for Barry and John for volunteering to play as without them we would have had 10.
We only just lost a cup game today but it’s the league that counts this season.
So, we move forward. I have looked at the season and we have a far easier 2nd half than we do a first half. We play Sutton and then Alder twice on the bounce. We need a full and available squad for these games please chaps.
If we play with the spirit and passion like the last two games we are going to have a very good 2nd half ;-)
Two weeks off now - enjoy and save your energy. Availability mail to follow.
Regards,
Paul Emsley-Martin
