There’s a few certainties in life. Death. Taxes. Hartrick scoring goals.
The last few months have produced some very good performances. But the last few months have also proved hard to come by in terms of goals and so results do not always match the effort shown. The Revs only have one natural finisher. The rest of us have to rely on large chunks of luck or sometimes sheer determination.
So when up against a new team of youngsters who were on a crest of a wave from recent results, I have to be honest and say a little bit of panic set in when Hartrick was stuck in traffic and wasn’t on time.
And so best laid plans and all that went out of the window for the first half. And overall, with no target man it showed. But generally there was malaise in that first half. I mean there were chances, James having an early sighter after a short pass into him from Dave P, but The Revs really didn’t test the keeper enough.
The Revs had the lion’s share of possession but squandered it an awful lot in that first half. There was some awful passing in the final third and a touch of panic on the ball at times when players had the time to look up and assess the playing field.
You can’t knock the effort from all involved. Dave P and Beardall were tirelessly working up and down the pitch, Dave P proving to be a constant nuisance to the opposition, but there was no end product.
Eventually the target man turned up and was ready to enter the fray after half time. The general consensus all round was test the keeper more. The Revs had been all huff and no puff - which also links nicely into the Brighton boy.
So just after half time it was a shock to the system when the youngsters – the ever running, full of boundless energy youngsters – took the lead. To be honest it was a mixture of tired legs, bad judgment and a slip from Captain James that led to the goal. Caught in two minds whether to shepherd the ball out or get rid, James slipped and did neither to allow their long legged attacker to come away and square to a teammate to tap into an empty net. Who the hell was meant to be marking that lone attacker though?!?!
Hartrick finally entered the field of play and his 10 minute cameo changed the game. Everyone was still buzzing around the pitch trying to make things happen but at least we had someone to aim for upfront now.
It didn’t take long.
A low stinging shot was palmed away for a corner by the opposition’s diminutive keeper. From the resulting corner James turned provider for the right team this time and whipped in a low corner that found Hartrick’s late run into the box for him to smash home.
That one goal broke the opposition and from this point there was no looking back for The Revs.
Dave P continued to hound, Ty and Lew were given the freedom to barge their way forward. The opposition could not handle this in the middle of the park, they had no battle in them to compete.
James spotted the run from their winger as the keeper released a quick ball out and was quick to intercept playing in Beardall down the wing who whipped in a delicious ball into the box. Hartrick still had work to do as it took him wide but the finish was to be admired as the keeper came out to close the angle only for Hartrick to cushion it beyond him and in the back of the net.
That folks is a goal scorer right there.
The team had lifted in the second half, gone up a gear and earned every ball there was to earn. Phil was making runs from the back to make space, which allowed Lew to fire in a shot that went just over and Dave P was quietly continuing to harass the opposition. He must have won every single aerial duel he was involved in. Don’t get me wrong, there was still work to do at the back. Some sloppy play here and there allowed the opposition to counter attack, but the effort from defenders to get back must be applauded and Myers didn’t switch off at any point, quickly off his line on two occasions to smother the ball.
Myers even almost chipped in with a goal after clearing his lines and the opposition keeper flapping at the ball crashed it against his own cross bar.
Late on The Revs made certain of the 3 points when Dave P won a kick in and then produced a lovely cross into Beardall at the back post who the defender completely ignored for him to strike from close range. Game over man, game over!
The remaining few minutes the team managed the game, slowed it down and kept the ball away from the opposition. The job was done and that meant 2 wins in a row.
There is no denying this team of youngsters will get better as the season peters out, but for now the old boys were victorious. A tremendous effort from all, especially Dave P’s work rate, but boy does it feel good for the team to have a proven goal scorer back in the ranks!
