I will be honest - I wrote out a full on match report and then the bloody thing crashed! So this is actually a lot shorter than it was!
Anyway on with the action...
The Revs have been up against it this season and have not managed to produce a consistent line-up at all, in fact they have struggled for numbers for various reasons. So once again The Revs went into battle with no subs against a top side, the Misfits who were in 3rd.
Myers was back in-between the sticks and you realise just how good he is and how much he is missed. Once again he produced a performance that frustrated the opposition.
At the back Allen and Pinkstone hounded, tackled and blocked everything in their path. It wasn't always pretty but it was pretty effective.
It's fair to say that The Revs didn't get much of a sniff in the first 10 minutes as the opposition looked to put this game to bed early. However, every single player played their part in defence, the effort was 100% from all. Lung burning runs forward and back to try stem the flow of the game.
The opposition thought they had two aces up their sleeve - both players thinking they were better than anyone else on that pitch. Their star man and their big lad. The tactics were simple. Get it up the big man, let him hold the ball up for the star man.
The Revs defensive masterclass nullified this threat though and more often than not the opposition resorted to long range efforts that Myers easily gobbled up.
Late on though a disaster as Pinkstone thrashed at the big lad who went down and cried for a bit. The ref having no choice but to award a penalty.
Their star man scooped up the ball all cock sure, but he was stared down by the steely Myers. Up he stepped and smashed it but Myers battered it away. Pinkstone then made up for the foul by blocking both follow up shots. The Revs survived the half and went in 0-0 at the break.
At half time the talk was positive, everyone knew this was a great chance to take all three points. The common theme was to be a bit more adventurous and trusting in their own ability.
Last time out against the Misfits it was 0-0 at half time but The Revs were slow to react in the second half went down to 2 early goals. This time that mistake would not be repeated - far from it in fact.
The ball was played out from the back and found it's way to Lewis who was now in a bullish mood. He beat one lad on the outside and cut inside and laid the ball off to Beardall who was sprinting up the middle in support, completely splitting the opposition midfield open. Beardall passed out wide to James who played a perfectly weighted ball back into the middle. Without breaking stride Beardall hit first time into the bottom corner, leaving the keeper standing.
This was a proper footballers goal, a thing of beauty. And the opposition did not like it!
The Revs pressed on, smelling blood now. The wind taken out of the opposition sails. More chances came. James with a couple of long range sighters seeing the keeper off his line but hitting wide. Allen smashing the ball in with his left and the keeper pulling off probably his save of the game. Lewis rampaging up the middle but snuffed out at the last second. Corners started piling up as the opposition panicked at the back.
The Revs needed that 2nd goal!
Unfortunately - against the run of play - the opposition broke and got a touch of fortune. A lucky deflection wrong footing Myers who spilled the ball and their star man was quickest to react for the tap in. The opposition were back in it.
The Revs didn't let that effect them though, they continued to play thier game at their pace and further pressure was put on the opposition defence. They started to get more and more frustrated.
This was evident at a corner for the Misfits with Allen slowing play down and the star man not taking kindly to it. He attempted to smash the ball at Allen but instead just wound up firing it out on the full to the other side of the pitch.
So late on you can imagine how they were feeling when The Revs bagged the winner minutes from time. Allen once again clearing the ball forward for James to run onto. James cut inside the last man and seeing the keeper back peddling hit a hopeful shot that pinged off the keepers leg and into goal and through the side netting - this week a goal would not be denied from the ref!
If the first goal was a thing of beauty, this one was the ugly sister!
The opposition lofted balls forward in the hope that something would drop but with seconds remaining Myers hoofed the ball towards Beardall. A quick kick in from the opposition meant a ball hoofed long again but James headed the danger away and the ref called time on the game and a 2-1 win for The Revs!!
It was a game that had everything! last ditch tackles, blocks, penalty saves and last minute goals. The great thing about this performance was the desire by every single player to work at getting back and also provide support up front. It was no more than The Revs deserved for recent hard working performances.
RTID!!
P.S. My first match report was even better than this! It was a full on romance of the game type yarn that would no doubt have been awarded a pulitzer...
