Lads
Ignoring the call for a high tempo, aggressive start we begin sluggishly and Sarratt bosses the opening part of the game. This leds to their first goal, down to a very sloppy piece of defending as their Number 10 drifts to the back post to head in unmarked from a yard out. The Sarratt midfield continues to dominate, and a strong header from one of our goals kicked falls to their Number 10 who applies a smart finish from the edge of the box. Another scrambling corner and poor marking sees a Sarratt player have time to hit a fierce half volley at the top left hand corner of the goal but an acrobatic Tom tips it brilliantly over the bar…and finally that inspires us to wake up. The last 15 minutes of the half sees an improvement as we begin to compete, and gave a glimmer of hope as the half time whistle went.
The talk at half time was about whether we were going to man up or wilt – the memory of a tepid second half against Harpenden still fresh. We all know with Bones and The Machine we can score 3 goals in 45 minutes but it needed a change in attitude, and thankfully we started the second half a different team. A great spot by Greg sees Paul and Christian swap marking duties and Gary leds the way with some storming runs down the right wing, linking well with the forwards and Rahul. We start to take the game to Sarratt, and the pressure was all ours. 10 minutes into the second half and the ball falls at Mikey’s feet at the end of the area – he spots the defender diving in and feints left, drifts past him like a ghost and slots home a very cool finish – game on.
Five minutes later a golden chance for Dale skims past the post and from their goalkick the ball eventually lands to their Number 9, a half volley from just outside the area skimming just past our post…slow close to game over but what turns out to be their best chance of the half has gone. Minutes later Christian breaks from defence and stabs the ball forward to Bones, who looks up…and my god it’s a 30-year screamer into the corner, what a strike! Bones stands half stunned, half ecstatic and he gets mobbed.
Sarratt are in a panic – their slow build up play has disintegrated as they moan and punt hopeless crosses into touch. Their influential Number 9 is getting claustrophobia as Christian has him so far in his pocket and our pressure keeps building…a deflected ball at the edge of the box lands at Dales’ feet…Bang Bang The Machine strikes again, a thumping blast into the corner which the keeper touches but can’t stop.
10 minutes to go, and Ben and Rob are both really struggling.. time to hobble off, leave the field? No chance, not today
We continue to play as a team, everyone marks, everyone runs, everyone tackles….The final whistle goes. 3-2 to the Potten. What a game, a classic – one of those that played will look back on with pride, and those that missed will curse.
Two League games, and a cup Semi-final to go…bring it on
Mac
