Sometimes it is hard to take a loss. And to say you didn’t deserve to lose is another phrase that is sometimes hard to justify. The opposition scored two very good goals, so within the laws of the game they are clearly deserved winners when The Revs only managed one.
But that only tells half the story…
Those two goals were essentially sucker punches after periods of domination from The Revs. That’s the hard part to take. The fact that in the muggy, sweaty weather with no subs to call upon The Revs played some of their best, most expansive football going forward to date and lost is a real hard pill to swallow.
Every one of those players played their part and turned the screw at essential times, cranking up the pressure and never panicking. From Myers at the back starting play quicker and showing confidence with the ball at his feet, right through to Evans up top holding the ball up, linking play… every man played their hearts out.
The opposition get two breaks, two fine shots and two goals. It’s a bit like the guy at work that coasts all year and then gets the big pay rise cos he managed to land one good client.
Football, as said before, is all about fine margins. Evans and Dave P hitting the post and it coming out, their lad scoring the winner by hitting the post and it going in…
The Revs had chances galore and thoroughly gave their defence a working over leading to panicked passing, wayward clearances and corner after corner… Dave P once again unlucky not to get on the end of a delightful ball round the corner from Evans after he’d beat his man. It’s those fine margins again isn’t it?!?!
The opposition took the lead. No one can be blamed defensively as everyone tracked their man, it was just a touch of misfortune mixed with a good shot… Phil P copped for a face full of ball and the rebound fell nicely for them to smash home.
The Revs didn’t panic though and got back at them. The pressure told not long after with Evans swivelling and firing a shot off that crashed off the post but in the meantime their aggressive, burly defender took Evans out with an ill-timed slide tackle… penalty awarded and a sinbin for good measure.
Evans in confident mode smashed it into the roof of the net to make it all square… and rightly so! The Revs cranked it up further with Phil P an option out wide, chiming into attack on one side and Allen pulling the strings on the other flank. Every time Allen got the ball he looked to whip in a dangerous cross, each time causing panic in the opposition ranks…
We won’t mention Phil’s swoosh on this occasion, the one that he completely mistimed and kicked so much fresh air that it caused a mini tsunami on the east coast… no, we won’t mention that at all.
Tyman was back in the middle of the park where he relishes and was like a brick wall – thou shall not pass! It was perfect when their big lad came barging through and Tyman just used his strength to ease him off the ball and come away to start the next wave of attack.
Five minutes from the end though a counter attack produced the eventual winner. Again the defence held strong, holding the attacker up but a pinpoint shot, hit as sweet as you like, found the only place that would beat Myers. A centimetre either way and that is either getting blocked, saved or hit’s the post and out, instead of the post and in.
With less than five to go The Revs threw everything at the opposition. A corner was whipped in by Allen and Evans’ shot was blocked by a despairing defender. Tyman won the ball and put it back in the mixer several times causing all kinds of blocks and clearances and then at the death Dave P hit a brilliant low drive that crashed off the post and was scrambled to safety. And with that the final whistle went on a fantastic game, but the cruellest of losses.
The Revs did themselves proud and next time they will finish the job… So we go onto next week against The Misfits!
