MEFF #39 – THE WALLS OF JERICHO 5 - 3 JUST BECAUSE HE BUYS YOU DINNER DOESN’T MEAN YOU OWE HIM ANYTHING:
After three weeks of boring friendlies, the LMB MEFF finally ignited some passion in steely hearts with a competitive match between Rowan’sThe Walls of Jericho and Griffin’s Just Because He Buys You Dinner Doesn't Mean You Owe Him Anything.
The first half (as usual) was an incredibly tight affair with both keepers making some smart stops, but it was the defending that stood out as JBHBYDMYOHA were forced to repel waves of pressure from Rowan’s tika-taka merchants, while Ash and Patto occasionally looked to hit Jericho on the break. Rich, Griffin, Fletch and Kieran provided a strong unit in front of the athletic Phil G to keep Jericho at bay, who had Luke, Daz, Griffiths and Crozier attacking in waves while Sicky and Aidan swept behind. Sicky also smashed a wayward left-footed shots miles over the fencing.
As tired legs and miscommunication crept into the game, the second half opened up and a 10 minute period of suicidal defending from both teams allowed the flood gates to open, with some extremely poor goals conceded at both ends (all with a pinch of luck thrown in). Phil made some excellent reaction saves to keep the scores level as Luke and Sicky tried their luck from range, while Rowan snaffled up several good crosses to deny the stretched Red team. The final 10 minutes saw Jericho edge ahead thanks to a fortunate own goal, and they then dominated possession once again as they squeezed the fight out of Griffin’s knackered team to claim a deserved win.
0-1: Patto(Ash chased a long ball down the right wing and crossed towards the back post, and although Rowan got his fingertips to the ball, he could only parry it into the path of Patto who glanced a header into the bottom corner)
1-1: Crozier(great holding play from Daz saw him torment the defence before feeding Crozier into the box, and he struck a low shot between Phil’s legs)
Half Time:
2-1: Sicky(Sicky was fortunate to stumble into the box with the ball clattering his feet, and he managed to get away a toe poke that slipped through Phil’s legs and rolled over the line)
2-2: Ash(Kieran’s threaded pass sent Ash clear down the left wing, and his low cross was left by a confused Rowan, who thought it was hitting the side netting, but the ball slipped under his withdrawing fingers and nestled in the goal)
3-2: Daz(hitting on the break, Griffiths laid the ball across the edge of the area where a totally unmarked Daz struck a thunderous and unstoppable half volley into the far right corner)
3-3: Patto(Griffin’s corner was knocked down by Fletch in front of goal, with the ball rolling kindly for Patto who reacted fastest and swivelled to shoot into the bottom left corner from 1 yard)
4-3: Own Goal(Crozier’s short corner found Luke unmarked at the front post, and his quick shot smashed the post and rebounded off Patto’s calf, dribbling along and then over the line beyond a bewildered Phil!)
5-3: Sicky(a period of passing around the box ended with Luke teeing up Sicky, who saw his shot take a wicked deflection off Fletch into the net beyond the diving Phil)
Men of the Match were Daz, “for scoring the best goal”, and Phil G, for “showing how proper keeping should be done!”
