With a first ever County Cup semi final a week away, the last team you’d want to face would be one that tried to bully, intimidate and foul their way to a result, but unfortunately Plumtree had to play such a team - Freebets4all.
Even before a ball had been kicked, the Freebets players were crying that the pitch was a bit too hard, a bit too bumpy and not the perfect surface that their particular brand of football deserved. One opposition player even suggested that a novel alternative to a game would be to ‘bang’ the ref, now I’ve thankfully no experience of girls from Bulwell but they can’t be all that bad..
Anyway, after yet more discussion the ref decided that the pitch was playable and after a couple more minor tantrums the game got underway with the Managers words ringing in the ears of the Plumtree players ‘concentrate on the game, you’re playing for your places and don’t forget if you’re cr*p you’ll miss the semi’ or words to that effect anyway..
The first goal was scored almost straight from kick off, a long ball to Simon was played into the box and Sam nipped in to score his 8th goal in 3 games. 15 free kicks later, Plumtree had a deserved second goal with Johnny providing the cross for Dunc to score with a simple tap in.
The third goal was ‘scored’ by Simon a few minutes later. After a couple of unlucky misses earlier in the half, he scuffed a shot towards the corner flag and was surprised to see it hit a Freebets player and end up in the back of the net. To be fair, he deserved a goal and despite the reservations of the dubious goals committee, it will go down as his first for the season.
The ref took a deep breath, relaxed and blew for half time, bringing to an end an interesting first half which had everything, great passing football from Plumtree, 3 well taken goals, numerous fouls (some seen, the majority pathetic cowardly ones not seen) and a couple of excellent saves from Roscoe in goal.
After the half time team talk, Leigh decided he’d had enough and left, destined for a place where more mature behaviour would be on show (a 1 yr olds birthday party) and Paul Gray came on in his place.
The second half followed a similar pattern to the first half, Plumtree goal (Sam), foul, free kick, argue with the ref, Plumtree goal (Sam), foul, argue, free kick, foul, moan at the injustice of it all, free kick, foul, argue a bit more, Plumtree goal (Johnny) until the score was 6 nil to the home team.
Unfortunately, Plumtree switched off for a second and the Freebets striker controlled a long ball and smashed a goal past Roscoe, whilst this was no more than a consolation, it was a disappointing one to concede.
The seventh goal came shortly afterwards, a clear penalty was awarded and Omar stepped up to smash in his 21st goal in 21 games. Top corner, completely unsavable (if such a word exists).
As the game petered out, the ref was finally forced to get out his cards and after the Freebets player chopped down and then kicked Duncan, he was sent to the naughty step to have a quiet (monosyllabic )word with himself.
The game ended 7-1 and was a fair result after a very professional performance by Plumtree. To be honest the game itself was a disgrace with too many fouls to mention, blatent dissent going unpunished and in my opinion the opposition were lucky to only receive one red card. It must be said that not everyone playing for Freebets should be tarred with the same brush but they have a number of individuals who shouldn’t be playing in the EMPAL.
Despite a number of great performances (Johnny, Sam and Chris K), the man (punchbag) of the match was Duncan Hinks.
