It wasn’t the dream start to 2018 The Revs had hoped for. Too much turkey and partying clearly taking its toll as The Revs seemed out of shape, especially for the first half of the game.
Diemen have this nasty habit of winning by the one goal – and sure enough that trend continued.
It wasn’t because they were better as such, it was more they seemed to want it more in the first half.
The Revs only early chance came after great work from Tyman out wide, whipped the ball into Evans senior who flicked the ball goal wards but with no power on the flick it gave the keeper a chance to collect.
Tyman was also doing a grand job keeping their main man quiet, hounding him, shielding the ball, winning headers. He was a one man army forcing the invading enemy back. However, one moment when he didn’t close the gap gave their man just enough space to shift the ball and fire an unstoppable shot into the bottom corner. Steane had no chance.
It was just one of those things.
The Revs went hunting an equaliser and it came not long after and maybe a tad fortuitous. Evans senior backing into his defender called for Evans junior to whip the ball in with pace and he duly obliged.
The ball, darting towards Evans senior was suddenly intercepted by the toe of D. Pinkstone and before anyone could react it was in the back of the net. Good instincts from Dave or bad touch leading to a goal? The opposition thought the latter. Diemen kept hoofing the ball long to their big man, who was now being marshalled by Allen at the back. And he didn’t get much change from him. Allen dealing with anything that came his way with ease. His winter training clearly making a difference.
It was a corner and slack marking that led to their second. A real schoolboy error of not going with the runner allowed for a relatively easy goal but a cheap one for The Revs to give away. We just do not concede goals like that anymore.
And so that is how it remained as half time came and the second half begun.
It was a very open second half with both teams having half chances, but no real threat from either side truly came about. Steane dealt well with everything at the back and was as much involved in the attack as anyone else.
Evans junior was in determined mood to win every ball back and was coolness personified when he collected a ball that hit our post. Off he jinked round several players in the area before going on a storming run down the pitch only for his final pass to go wayward.
We had further chances to grab something late on too with both Tyman and Pinkstone hitting the side netting but the best and most audacious attempt was Beardall. Just on the half way line, the ball was cleared and Beardall realises their keeper is way off his line. So on the half volley it loops up and looks to have beaten the keeper only for him to stretch a fingertip out and tip it over for a corner.
However the equaliser wasn’t to be and once again The Revs were beaten by an average Diemen team.
And next week doesn’t get any easier for The Revs facing the youngsters of SAPA who will be out for revenge.
