With no first choice keeper, no first choice striker and no subs, it was always going to be a tough ask against the league leaders!
A bunch of young, cocksure lads who had pretty much walked the league so far, were up against the best defence in the league though. You wouldn’t know it from the start though!
The plan was, therefore, to keep it tight and be hard to beat.
That plan went straight out the window. Within the first 3 minutes they were 2 up and The Revs had only touched the ball to kick off. The opposition had confident smiles all over their faces and were already discussing what types of goal to score against the “50 year olds”.
Slowly the Revs got into the game though. Yes the opposition had the lion’s share of possession, but between me and you, the Revs had the better chances.
Beardall thread a ball through the eye of a needle to Evans, who squeezed between two defenders, but could not get a decent shot off. Dave P produced a sublime cross for Evans to head back across goal but the keeper got fingertips to it. Tyman barged his way through to unleash a shot that went narrowly wide.
But still the opposition mocked.
With each passing 5, as the opposition made 2 subs at a time, the Revs survived further damage. The opposition thinking they had already won this.
And so into the 2nd half and time and time again the Revs created chances, the opposition affording the team far too much space. Beardall was pinging balls into the box, Evans was trying to get on the end of them in vain. However, the Revs got closer and closer with Evans crashing a shot against the post an early warning of what was to come.
Meanwhile Allen was mopping up anything at the back and also starting the attack – no long balls needed tonight boys, it was beautifully played out from the back. A lot of calm interplay between Steane and Allen frustrated the opposition.
Eventually the Revs got their breakthrough. Beardall’s short pass into Evans who turned and let off a poor shot that somehow managed to squirm under the rather rotund keeper! 2-1 and game on!
Tyman was a one man mountain in midfield. He was beat a few times early on by their awful human being of a player, but once Tyman had the measure of him, he batted him off with ease. So much so that the lad lashed out in frustration and as a result saw himself spend 2 minutes in the sinbin.
Tyman has a nack of getting under your skin to be honest :-)
The Revs had a man extra and actually pressured the opposition who started to sit deeper and deeper. Beardall whipped in a ball that deceived everyone and hit the post, but moments later he found the freedom to knock a hopeful ball into Evans who was stood unmarked. Evans managed to guide the ball into the bottom corner! 2-2 with 2 minutes to go.
Their sinbinned lad entered the fray and they bombed forward looking for the winner. Tyman and Allen stood strong, Steane got his body in the way of everything and Dave P tracked players relentlessly. It was a superb show of determination.
And the Revs could have nicked it at the end with Beardall totally mugging off their last man only to tackle himself! Old man down!!
Eventually the ref brought things to a halt and the Revs roared with defiance, much to the chagrin of the opposition. “Get home for your cocoa old men…”
I would say wily old foxes to be honest, but I am bias! Doesn’t pay to be so cocky so early on lads, be gracious in victory as well as defeat… or in this case… 2 nil and you fucked it up!!
