Where do you start!! We arrived at Hook Norton on a warm and sunny morning to find a pitch in perfect condition, though bigger than the ones we had previously played on so you kind of thought there'd be plenty of goals, and so it proved.
We started the game well and our midfield of Ben J, Ben B, George K and Miguel and strikers Dan and Marco managed to peg back our hosts deep into their own half. After 9 minutes this pressure paid off when from a through ball from Jake, Ben B got to the ball just before the advancing keeper and managed to squeeze the ball just inside the near post.
10 minutes later we doubled our lead when from a great corner from the impressive Ben B, George K volleyed home from close range, 2-0.
By now we were so much on top that it looked to be a case of how many we wouild get. But two minutes before half-time, against the run of play, Hookie struck back when a corner was headed in to make the score 2-1. A minute later it was 2-2. A hopeful ball was lobbed forward and bounced just in front of George R and over his head and in.
The second half began with the home team doing most of the pressing, but our back four of Ben M, Jake, Jay and Joe, who was having a cracking game, and goalie George R held firm until Hookie made the breakthrough with 20 minutes left to give them a 3-2 lead.
We then pressed hard for an equaliser but to no avail, with ten minutes left we tried one last throw of the dice. The hard working Dan came off with Ewan going in goal and George R pushing up front. Initially the plan didnt work because 3 minutes later we were 4-2 down and with just 7 minutes left we were seemingly down and out. But no one told our boys that, with 2 minutes remaining the ball fell to George R who dinked a superb ball through to George K who took it in his stride before firing home to give us hope of sneaking a draw. In the last minute the ball again broke to George R who was just inside the area he loaded the gun and was about to fire when he was bundled over from behind. PENALTY. George K stepped up and planted the ball firmly in the corner to complete a brilliant hat trick. 4-4.
We were now well on top but we were deep into injury time when we witnessed one of the most bizarre incidents I've ever seen in football. Ben B stabbed the ball from a goalmouth scramble for what we thought was the winner. The Ref gave a goal and we all trotted back to the half-way line. The Ref then spotted an injured Hookie player and went to see him. The player told him he'd been kicked so the Ref disallowed the goal!!
Despite this we still got another chance. Man of the Match Ben J won possesion and sprinted into the area before calmly planting the ball in the far corner ensuring we maintained our 100% start to the season.
So a massive WELL DONE to all the boys who refused to be beaten and produced a performance full of skill and character.
I'm off for a lie down now, see you all on Friday!!
