This was a game The Revs had pencilled in as a potential season kick starter. The Revs, although 3 points behind the opposition, had a better goals for and goals against record. The Revs game plan was to get into the opposition from the start.
And to be fair to the team they did that. It was played all in the opposition half, The Revs enjoying their highest possession game of the season so far, but there was no killer instinct in front of goal and as is the case were punished for their woeful attempts in front of goal with a counter attack goal, a long range effort, that found its way inside the post. A truly awful sucker punch.
However the team pushed forward and apart from a few moments were comfortable at the back. The Revs had further chances, Hartrick elected to shoot when Evans was the easier option one of the stand out chances in the first half. Even though the breakthrough wasn't there, The Revs still maintained possession, pushed on by a tremendous all action display by Tyman.
Then came another sucker punch of the worst kind. Myers collecting a lame long range shot and trying to pass out wide to Allen, but got it horrendously wrong gifting the opposition the ball in a dangerous place. P. Pinkstone raced across only to see the opposition's poor effort richochet off his body, wrong stepping Myers and rolling over the line for goal number 2 not long before half tme. A comedy of errors and lack of communication costing The Revs.
The Revs were better than this and after half time once again came out the blocks. Allen had an effort saved, Evans was put through by Beardall only to have the keeper smother it, P. Pinkstone got into a great position from a corner losing his marker but fluffed his lines and Tyman didn't quite connect right with a header from an Evans kick in led to a frustrating second half period.
By this time the opposition were hanging on and would win by default. The default being The Revs could not score.
Then came an amazing last 5 minute period. Again some wonderful passing football, sweeping the ball outwide to Beardall, who whipped in a bending ball, decieving the opposition, to Allen who put his laces through the ball, which squirmed under the keeper and gave The Revs hope of a comeback,
From the kick off The Revs were back in the opposition faces. The entire team hounding the opposition. With around a minute to go The Revs broke once again, this time Allen whipped in a ball, similar to Beardall's earlier assist, that the opposition did not deal with and Hartrick, who had been quiet for much of the game, pounced upon the ball, turning and blasting into the bottom corner to even the game up.
The ref called 30 seconds left. The opposition had one last attack in them, but Tyman dealt with it and pumped the ball up field. Evans collected the loose ball and raced forward, it was a two on one situation, Evans chose to pass out to Hartrick, whose first touch was not the cleanest, but he had chance to knock the ball back into the middle of the box to either Evans or a rampaging Tyman but instead shot and the ball deflected out for a corner. Before The Revs could take it the ref blew the final whistle to end the game all square.
Yes it was a great comeback, but the calibre of opposition played meant it was disappointing to not come away with the three points, especially with the frantic end to the game. The lesson here for all the team is to make better decisions.
But The Revs are off the mark. That elusive first win is surely close by.
