The 4s moved into the last 16 of the AFA cup with a good win in North London on Saturday. Meads decided that coming back from a goal down like last week was not enough of a challenge, so this week they decided to give Old Finchleians a two goal head start. 2-0 down inside 15 minutes on a rain soaked day in North London was not the ideal start but four goals in the first half ensured progress to the next round.
The day, as ever, had started with an element of panic when Joe Willis was not even home from the night before when he was supposed to be at Chiswick Station; he trudged down the sidelines about 20 minutes into the first half unwilling to make too much eye contact or speak with any great coherence. Luckily Jon was coming back from injury and was willing to start so he started alongside his brother Andy at centreback with Ash moving to leftback and Craig staying at right back. Another week, another new defence.
the game could not have started worse for Meads with Finchleians making a quick start and slicing through our midfield with ease. This left the defence immediately on the back foot. Finchleains first was a good team move and a nice finish by their burly forward. With Meads still in the car, Finchleians helped themselves to another goal about 5 minutes later when a corner dropped to their danger man unmarked and he finished into the roof of the net. 2-0 down inside 15 minutes. It could have been worse had Tim not made two good saves early on to make sure that Meads were not out of the game already.
As heads dropped and players trudged back to the halfway line, everyone realised that unless something changed quickly a potential cup run was to end in embarrassment. The 2nd goal was perhaps the wake up call that was needed and Meads began to play with more control and composure and they soon realised that with simple movement and passing Old Finchleians would be opened up with relative ease. The first crucial goal came after Craig found George with a throw and George nicely controlled the ball and on the spin lofted the ball into the box where Owen was on hand to attack the ball and head nicely past the keeper from close range. Back in the game.
The tide had now turned and Meads were moving the ball around with confidence. Finchleians still posed a threat but Meads had gathered themselves and were dealing a lot better with any attacking forays. The equaliser came from an unlikely source from the corner when Owens cross was nodded home by Sam, off his face! Sam was standing on the keeper and he pulled out to the 6 yd box and Owen's corner found him perfectly and he headed low into the ground and the ball bounced into the corner. Back level but the job not even close to being finished.
With the game now level, Meads knew they had the chance to storm ahead and really take control of the game. They were given a helping hand minutes later when their keeper made a rash call to come flying out of his goal. Matt had played the ball down the line for Sam, who was midway inside the oppos half but right on the right wing when their keeper suddenly appeared out of nowhere. With a typical keepers challenge, he completely mistimed his challenge and Sam was able to skip past with ease but he did not realise it was the keeper. It was only when he heard shouts of shoot from all around the pitch that he realised the goal was open. Still with a lot of work to do, Sam slotted the ball home from the right touch line into the empty net, past the despairing efforts of the retreating defence.
The turnaround was fully completed when a nice team move resulted in Meads rampaging forward with a huge overload. The only issue with this sweeping counter attack was that George had to be the final decision maker. With calls from Sam, Owen and Tommy and no doubt a huge desire to go himself, could George make the right decision? To his credit George made the right decision. He calmly played the ball to his left where Tommy was on hand to nicely slot past the keeper to make it 4-2. Tommy then ran to the corner and slid in celebration lifting his arms and head to the sky as his adoring fans (birds and insects alike) looked on from the surrounding trees.
With the game now completely turned around it was crucial that Meads did not let their foot off the gas. Finchleians were nearly immediately back in the game when their new striker turned and his finish brushed the top corner of the post and bounced clear. The rest of the first half was negotiated easily enough and Meads were in control. The second half was a fairly sloppy affair, Meads not playing with quite the same simplicity that brought results in the first half and Finch's getting increasingly frustrated with their inability to get back into the game.
Finchleains were to give themselves hope when a hopeful ball forward saw 3 meads players and their striker converging on the ball. With Tim shouting, the defenders left the ball as it skipped past them, but suddenly a yellow shirt popped up and poked the ball past the onrushing Tim and into the net, 4-3. Meads had a few chances to seal the game, a driven cross from Matt was met by George, who diverted the ball goalbound but the keeper made a good save with his feet.
As the time ticked by, Meads began to see the finish line and they started hanging on. With holes opening up, Finchleains looked to get the elusive equaliser. There was time for a couple of scares; the ball skidded out of Tims grasp and as their striker swivelled and his shot was headed for the far corner, Tim recovered magnificently to tip the ball around the post. Meads managed to see the game out though and ensure that they are now in the last 16 of both cups. With an away trip to Birmingham avoided in the next round, lets hope that the first game in January can bring better returns than at the same stage last year.
MOM went to Tim who made some great saves throughout the match, early on with a couple of low one on one saves and later with a couple of good saves to keep the lead in tact. Whilst it is good to see Meads recovering from a goal or two down in successive weeks, we cannot continue to give opposition leads and expect to comeback. Certainly next week when Meads travel away to high flying Natwest, who are unbeaten in the league.
