I dreamt a dream… I've since told you all that before the Semi Final I had dreamt that we'd won the cup. So to crash out at the semi stage was not the plan! Ben and I sat at work on Monday and Tuesday deflated, and I recollected the 'dream' to him. When the call came from the league to say that 4 players were ringers………. my first thought was that dream?! You have to look a long ways down the road ('93 to be exact) since Potten End experienced the raising of silverware. So Wednesday nights game crackled with excitement, nerves and expectation. Potten having suffered the heartbreak of losing last year, while being deprived of players, only to find that the county league had kindly replaced the team you had beaten twice that season with a shed load of ringers……. At least this year it would be a level playing field. For a start four of their members were our own: Christian, Jamie, Mikey and Tom. Some things you need to know: *Hemel Rovers are unbeaten this season *Having played them twice, we lost ….. twice (3-2 and 7-1) *'Rovers have scored 3 goals in EVERY game they have played this season *Rob (15) & Drew (37) have scored 52 goals between them …. so far Macca and I had a pre game meeting after training on Tuesday (ok, ok a beer!). The agonising decision to pick the side and tactics for the match. 11 were chosen and a very specific tactical change made. To the game then. The now customary meet at the plough, and the coach arrival for finals day (hey this could become a habit), ready changed and warmed up. The final words, and instruction given. Crucially we adopted a 4-4-1-1 formation. Rob and Dale having the massive responsibility of making 5 in the midfield when play broke down. This was intended to combat the 3-5-2 that we guessed Hemel would deploy. We'd never done it before, and so it was experimental to say the least. Macca and I asked for commitment, but more importantly for everyone to enjoy and express themselves, as we felt that nerves did for us last year. First Half: I don't think that Hemel were expecting the level of commitment or desire that met them when the whistle blew. The defense tried to push up, with Gregor barking orders like a demented Sergeant Major. Early pressure on every touch and contested 50/50's meant that attempted possession from Hemel was overturned at source. I can't remember them playing the ball into touch as often as they did. They are however a very dangerous side, and we had some nerve jangling moments. Mark called for a cross and Keiran duly ducked, only to have the ball hit his back and roll towards the goal line, one of four goalmouth scrambles successfully avoided in the first half! Thats not to say that we didn't have chances of our own. Dale had two very presentable chances, one superbly saved. A screaming free kick was acrobatically tipped around the far post leaving the PEFC screaming. The longest ever half time break then broke out! It felt like forever waiting to get back out. There wasn't much for Macca, Gav, Nolan or Ben to say. More of the same would do. Macca stressed that the first 10 minutes would be crucial and cement the hard work already done. The silence from the next door changing room was deafening. Talking to Christian after, he said that they knew they were beaten. How well Mac' had read it, and how right the 10 minutes message was to be. Second Half: As instructed efforts were redoubled, old battles reacquainted. Jonny and Ben didn't miss a header all game. The width from Alkie and Dave gave the opposition no outlet, a touch here a header there and more throw ins than you could shake a stick at. Not flowing stuff, but hard dirty thankless work. Then…….. throw in 400 produced some space for Dave Melhuish. The Same Dave who had been rested for the last 20/30 minutes of many games. With composure to die for, the ball was sent arrowing into the back of the Rovers net. Queue mass celebrations from the team and the massive gathering that is the PEFC! After this high point came a realisation moment, we now could win this and perhaps even deserved to. We were only one goal away from not, and still had 35 minutes to go. Long minutes. This changed the game as now it became what we have we hold. Its hard not to. In great credit to Nolan and Greg, Drew had now come over to the left to ocupy me, and boy that kid can run. It meant that we were now defending much more, and the break was to be our outlet. Robbie made way for Bones having put in a pitch perfect performance, beautifully interpreting the managements request for 4-4-1-1. Chances fell to Dale, Bones the departing Alkie and the oncoming Dan Rose. But for a Man of the Match performance by the Hemel 'keeper, the game could have been up. Bar one (rather talented) upstart interloper, the old father time defence was not to be breached. Gav, Nolan, Mark, Gregor and young Kieran were not having that lovely nil punctured. Ladies and Gentlemen that is over 200 years of pent up belligerence i'll have you know! The final whistle when it eventually came brought with it some silverware recognition for 20 years of great fun, good friends, laughs and beers. Now you know why we keep it Rotten. NOTE: no MOM this week - there were just too many!
