Due to me getting my directions messed up AND the decision being taken to get the game underway 15 minutes early, I missed nearly half of the first half.
So, from Ryan’s goal-kick on 20 minutes and a great flick on header by Cory, Zac found himself in behind the defence, his first shot was blocked by the keeper the ball came back to his feet but his second shot was also saved. Dom went on a great mazy run through midfield into the box but couldn’t get his shot on target. On 35 minutes though, it was Dom’s long throw headed into the net by a defender that gave us the lead. It was almost level 2 minutes before the break. Under pressure, we tried to clear from deep in the right corner and the ball rebounded to a Tibshelf player clear on goal. His shot was saved brilliantly by Adam diving full-stretch to his left. Possibly the save of the season to keep is in front at the break.
We pressed forward in the early part of the 2nd half but seemed to lack cohesion. Ollie was on for Woody with Graney dropping to right back. Zac was subbed on 45 minutes for using bad language directed at the management.
The game was level on 54 minutes when a ball came through the middle, Brad tried to shield back to Adam and between them they managed to allow the forward to steal the ball and poke it into an empty goal. They should have taken the lead 3 minutes later. Again Brad didn’t make the clearance and lost the ball, wide of the goal about 6 yards out. The forward cut in, past a couple of defenders and Adam but this time couldn’t hit the open goal. Tibshelf did get in front on the hour. A corner was headed off the line but was headed back in to the net. Our confidence was now shot to pieces.
On 68 minutes another corner, this time for us, was put over by Dom. Raffy met it with a power header which came back off the post.
On 78 minutes Brad and Ryan were both caught out of position, leaving Dom to try to chase back, he matched the forward for pace but was unable to prevent the shot that made it 3-1 with Adam static. Straight from the re-start we attacked down the left Ollie’s cross cum shot bounced high off the bar and came down to Raffy who headed over with the keeper stranded. If he had waited for the ball to come down....well who knows?
In the last minute, another Tibshelf corner was headed clear, but the clearance fell to a player on the edge of the box who volleyed it into the corner. Then in added time, a long free-kick went over our defence and was put in to make it 5-1.
A ridiculous scoreline brought about by indecision, poor play, lack of confidence, cohesion, fitness and in some cases commitment. A day or two to reflect on the game also leaves me to believe that a little bit of good fortune might have helped as well. Man of the match was Dom.
