With the season coming to a close the squad were fully aware that we could be doing better in the league and Saturday proved a chance to move away from the bottom and look up rather than down. Things could not have started worse; Jake turned up stinking of alcohol 15 minutes before KO and he had the kit so we got out onto the pitch about 10 seconds before kick off- an improptu house party was the reason/excuse.
The match was not going to be much better, for the first half at least. It was the worst half of football we have produced this season and we were 2-0 down as a result. The first was a direct free kick when Jake decided to stand behind the wall he had asked for leaving the other half of the goal open. The second came soon after with the ball rolling into the empty net as Jake and Eric got slightly mixed up and their striker poked the ball home. Eric tried valiantly to get the ball away but couldn't wrap his foot around the ball.
Before either goal had gone in a perfectly good goal was chalked by the ref for offside. Damien had chipped the ball over the top and as the ball dropped Matt hit it first time over the keeper before running around the other side to put the ball in the empty net but the referee blew and this was start to start a hate hate relationship between the two.
With the fragemented half of football out of the way we were embarrassed to hear that they were in fact talking about winning 7-0 to give them a chance of avoiding relegation, thats how bad we were in the opening 45 mins. We went out with renewed enthusiasm and a point to prove. It didnt take long for us to get back into the game, George crossed left footed and the defender missed the header leaving a surprised Dan little time to adjust but he got his foot to the ball and the finish went back across the keeper, 1-2.
We knew there was now a good chance of turning the game on its head. With Ash continually destroying his full back we were getting a steady supply from the left hand side and it was not too long before the equaliser came. An intelligent quick free kick from Kev sent Ash on his way and he played it into Dave who found Dan. Dan was too acute an angle to pass so was forced into the shot, his shot rebounded off the post into George's path. This is where you hear another story about how George scores the worst goals known to man. He scores and as they say they all count but his goals are s**t. This week it is a rebound off the post, 8 yards out, open goal apart from the defender on the line. He strikes the ball side footed fitrst time and the ball roles tamely straight at the defender on the line, but he is so surprised by the wackness of the shot that he duly stumbles and fumbles and somehow misses the ball and the ball and the ball roles under his foot, 2-2!
In between these goals were some nice saves from Jake, one from an acrobatic shot from their midfielder which was well parried away. We took the lead minutes later when another mazy run from Ash was finished off by Damo at the near post after Ash crossed nicely. Now the lead was there we still piled forward in our customary cavalier manor and we scored the clincher when Neil played the ball into Dan who finished nicely with a good strike in to the near post as he bore down on goal.
The game was seen out with ease with some more chances to get goals but by this stage the sun and the impending victory had made everyone a little bit loopy and the game had lost its edge and seriousness.
MOM went to Ash for his display on the left, another great performance from the mazy runner as he continues his fine form right through to the end of the season.
