Mexoc’s first cup fixture of the season was an FA county cup fixture away at St. Mary’s COB which was to be played at The Sticks just off Gorsey Lane, Little Crosby. This was slightly unfortunate because thanks to navigation skills reminiscent of someone with only a few random instructions scribbled on the back of an envelope captain Causley had led the entire Mexoc team to Litherland where they were slowly circling Gorsey Lane cemetery before finally admitting that we were lost and doing the most unmanliest of things and asking directions. Unfortunately it would not be the last time the team lost there way that afternoon.
After finally getting some reliable directions the Mexoc convoy stumbled across a baron, windswept ground and after a quick change were ready to embark on this seasons march to cup glory (surely). The game started well (i.e. there was a kick off) but soon resembled 22 barely fit men chasing various footballs round in the swirling wind and into and out of the adjacent stream. The first meaningful action saw the home side twice testing the Mexoc goal from distance but they were stoutly repelled by two of Mexocs best defenders, namely the right and left post with both efforts being well watched by Kev Johnson in goal who clearly saw them sail past him before rebounding to safety. With Mexoc struggling to get out of there own half it was not surprising that St Mary’s took the lead after some generous defending from the centre halves. After that Mexoc came back into the game with some good tackling from John ‘dog of war’ McNeil in the centre of the pitch and good running from Dave ‘little Dave’ Ablewhite down the right flank. After 30 minutes Mexoc were level. John Faulkner picked the ball up and played a through ball which many (including himself judging from his reaction) thought was over hit but as the wind held it up Dan Causley was able to run through and poke it home.
This seamed to spur Mexoc on with Regan and Faulkner going close, the latter forcing a good save from the St Mary’s keeper which was seen by everyone but the referee. St Mary’s responded by piling on yet more pressure onto the Mexoc goal and were rewarded when Martin Donaghy made a challenge reminiscent of his ex-Manchester United namesake Mal (remember him?) and as late as a Mexoc team arriving at an away fixture to concede a penalty. This was either expertly or luckily (I personally think the later) dispatched giving Johnson in the Mexoc goal no chance (particularly because he was diving in the opposite direction) as it crashed in off the underside of the bar. As half time approached St Mary’s continued to attack and got a third goal after a good strike form distance flew wind assisted into the top corner as so took a 3-1 lead into the break.
After a rousing half time team talk (i.e. come on lads we’ve got the wind this half) Mexoc took to the field with more purpose and dominated the second half with out seriously troubling the opposition Keeper and so it was against the run of play that St Mary’s best player was allowed to wonder into the Mexoc area and fire a shot in at the near post. As the game wore on the Mexoc seamed to lose what little shape they started with and did not seriously trouble the keeper until Rob Poole sent in a corner that caught the wind and sailed into the top corner. This was particularly impressive as he was miles away on a train to Edinburgh and wearing Chinos and loafers rather than on the pitch in football kit. That was the last meaningful action of the game and its St Mary’s that go into the proverbial hat after a 4-2 victory.
Overall it was not a bad performance and lessons will be learnt from this match. Primarily that football games shouldn’t be played on wind farms, Dan Causley shouldn’t be in charge of directions, and that Mexoc are at there best when they try to get the ball down on the ground and pass it to men in the same colour shirt. As the old adage goes we can now concentrate on the league (or the various other cups we seem to get knocked out of early every season).
Paul Regan
