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On Saturday the 4s took on the newly promoted Old Danes IIs in Acton and came away with 3 points after another determined display. With 5 players on the pitch 10 minutes before kick off preparation was far from ideal and we had only 10 players come kick off. Charlie couldn't find the place but still managed to turn up just before kick off, only to take what must have been the longest piss in the world as he still managed to miss kick off by 5 minutes. Sam and Foz were somewhere on the north circular in Foz's new peedmobile and managed to get to the game as the half time whistle blew.
We started slowly but were gifted a goal after 10 minutes. An Old Danes defender played a wonderful through ball for Ronnie and he duly obliged with his 2nd goal in as many games; a finish with his left wrong footing the keeper to put us 1-0 up. We remained a bit ragged with Old Danes finding too much space in the middle, which allowed them to dictate play. They had some good chances to go level but Jake wasn't going to let the lead go easily. A nice double save and a brave challenge at the feet of the striker both helped meads go into the 2nd half with a 1-0 lead.
Meads also created some chances in an open first half. Ash, desperate to get his scoring boots on, weaved his way through the defence before unleashing a shot with his left but saw the shot parried away for a corner. Ronnie was troubling their ageing centre backs and was unfortunate not to add to his tally in the first half.
Meads had not been the better team in the first half but with Joe and Ollie playing well as a new centre back pairing and Dave bringing his usual composure to the occasion we had a solid foundation from which to build- Kev was playing well form right back too.
The 2nd half was a much better display in terms of our organisation and we created the better, if not more, chances. The injured Charlie was replaced by Sam, who came on on the wing and we continued to press for a 2nd goal. A nice corner from Lister was headed goalwards by Damo but their defender cleared it off the line and then Lister had a chance to kill off the game when another Steven Gerrard style back pass was intercepted deep in Old Danes half. Lister was clear, through on goal, only keeper to beat. Everyone stopped as Lister had all the time in the world to pick his spot, perhaps too much time. He decided to try and go round the keeper but the keeper spread himself well and took the ball. Jake had pulled off a couple more saves to keep our lead intact most notably when he turned a goalbound header from 6 yards around the post with a fingertip save.
The equaliser came from Old Danes with about 20 to go. As I asked Jake after the game if he thought he could have done anything with the goal, Old Danes' manager walked past and said "yeah, jump" to which Jake replied "gravity is not my best friend". A shot from the edge of the area had gone over his head and in off the underside of the bar.
The game was on tenterhooks as we went into the final quarter of the game. Lady Luck was on Meads' side once again when a ball was played through for Sam to chase and the keeper appeared in control as he came out to collect the ball in the area, instead he was scared by Sam's ever increasing presence and as Sam poked it he let the ball slip under his hands as he went to ground and Sam was happy to accept his gift, running around the keeper to roll the winner into the empty net.
Meads saw out the game, nearly clinching the game when a left footed strike from Matt was turned around the post late on. It was another display that may not have been the prettiest but we came away with the most important thing, the points.
Everyone showed a great desire to retain the lead and the challenges were still flying in right through to the end. We also adapted our game well, playing more direct than usual to attack their centre backs who had a combined age of 73. Old Danes probably deserved a point from the game but luckily we were not in a generous mood and we took all the points back with us to Chiswick.
MOM went to Joe for a great display as an emergency centre back alongside Ollie, clearing and covering well he dealt easily with all Old Danes could throw at him.
