Back to earth with a bump. Beaten 4-2 by a good Alumni team, however showed enough to suggest that we can hold our own against anyone in the league. Alumni have been in this division for some time and are noted for their strength and quality.
The pitch wasn't the best but playable. It was raining and the ball tended to skid off the surface, but saying that not a bad day for a game of football. One of the biggest disppointments was going into what was expected to be an extremely difficult game against recognised quality opposition with the bare minimum of 11 players. After originally counting up 15 players we were down to the die hards again, which is fine until the legs start going, and who knows with a bit of support from the line things may have been different. We lined up more or less as usual, Mike Weedon and Colin Bell having to play out of position, but they both showed well and worked hard against their opposite numbers.
Alumni sucked us into their idea of 'fair play', by shaking hands, International style, on the half way line. The game kicked off and they commenced with crunching tackles which took our lads by surprise. Early on Graham Worrall made two outstanding saves, being trampled on in the process leaving stud marks up his right arm. Intentionally ? Draw your own conclusions ! Despite this we battled and tried to play what football we could, being closed down all over the pitch by the home team.
The first 15 mins were anyones, evenly matched and hard fought. Alumni with runners breaking from midfield and Oaks with two banks of four rigidly defending their goal. Then it came. A goal from the unlikliest of source - Gary McDonald. Picking the ball up on the right side of the pitch, McDonald crabbed across the penalty box, beating 2-3 challenges from the opposition, before striking it with his left foot. Top right hand corner......keeper flailing around desperately - Goal. 1 - 0 Oaks. Those of us that know Gary's left foot will understand the tremendous achievement of this feat.
This stirred the home team into a dramatic response. Wave after wave they came, beaten back by dogged defending. Carl Styles and gary McDonald feverishly breaking things up in midfield, with Mike Weedon and an excellent Ian Bates keeping the defenders on their toes when not inpossession, causing them problems with thei pace and skill as we broke forward. After 28 mins the pressure told, a move throught the center of the pitch saw the home team breach the Oaks rearguard and the ball was soon nestled in the bottom right of our net.
Eight minutes later the tables were turned, Alumni capitalising on poor defensive work to take the lead. Trying to play the ball from the back the ball was played back to the keeper who, due to the weather conditions did not get the distance he would want and the ball was lost on the right, half way inside our half. However you have to say that the tackle that did so was far from what you would expect from a team so high on 'fair play' with dave Selleck receiving stoods from the top of his left thigh down to the righ calf. A scything challenge that the referee missed. Despite all this though the finish from the Alumni striker was excellent and one of quality, striking the ball past the diving Graham Worrall into the top right of the goal, probably 35 yards out and virtually on the touchline.
Despite this Oaks heads did not drop and we were rewarded with a penalty on 42 minutes. Peter Fairfield's quick feet in the box drawing the challenge from the right back who went over the top with the challenge onto the ankle. Following intensive training sessions with John Storey Peter went down pole axed. Up stepped dave Selleck to score his, and Oaks 2nd penalty of the season, once again sending the keeper the wrong way. 2 - 2 half time.
The second half continued much as the first, unfortunalty poor marking from Alumni's first corner of the game led to a header in the centre of the goal leaving Graham Worrall no chance. In years gone by heads may have dropped but not this oaks team. Carl Styles worked tirelessly in midfield, his perpetual motion and involvement in all of oaks moves earnt him the MOM award. Opportunites still came our way but resolute defending by the home team kept Bates and Weedon at bay. Carl Styles was unlucky to see a header from a Peter Fairfield corner go over the top by inches. that would have seen us back into the game, but it was not to be. Alumni were able to make several substitions and change the pattern of the game, something which we were unable to do. Oaks began to tire and on 82 minutes a free kick was given away mid way in the oaks half. From that set play, the substitute rose unchallenged in the box to head into the gaping net.
The game finished 4 - 2 but Alumni know they have been involved in a game. Flagging fittness levels of oaks players gave Alumni a good finish, on the whole probably a fair result but hard earned. On reflection this is the standard of team we have to expect to play at this level and the level of committment shown by Alumni probably took us by surprise. It's our first season at this level and is something to learn from. We play them again next week at our first home game of the season. With a full squad in attendance and committment we could turn the tables and pull off a shock - now wouldn't that surprise people !
