As he did such a good job last time, we sent B "Liniker" J out once again:
Different week, different eleven and this week, a different formation. The Chief introduced an attacking 3-4-3 formation which the Scuns team of old would have been proud of. A back three which included Simmo, back from his ordeal whilst on International duty, as well as the Scuns version of Michael Palin who was back from what seems to have been his tenth trip away in as many months! Throw in to the mix a keeper full of man-flu and there was always going to be a few cobwebs to get rid of.
Scuns started brightly and looked like the Scotter defence would not be able to cope with the new formation but it wasn’t long before frustrations took over with BJ and Growler leading the way with a spat that you would expect to see in the playground but once aired it was forgotten although Scuns were looking shaky. Whilst the wide men tried to find position Scotter started to attack and eventually got the breakthrough after a strong run down the left ended in the penalty area where the usually, ever so reliable Jambo, saw an opportunity to nick the ball but sadly failed. The subsequent spot kick was dispatched. 1-0 Scotter.
Not long after and it was two. Once again Scuns were left outnumbered and a ball in from the left found the striker in the box who in turn found the corner of the net. 2-0. Not good. Queue the calls from a number of players to revert back to the more familiar 4-4-2 but the Gaffer kept to his word and stuck with the formation originally adopted but moved Jambo up top, Belly to the flank and Potso into the back three. Immediately, the back three looked more assured with the pace of Williams countering the breaks made by the opposition forwards, Simmo playing with his usual ‘never say die’ spirit and Kemshall, well, just being Kemshall!
Despite the change the ball continued to fail to stick in the oppositions half meaning a lack of clear cut chances although when they were created they were dealt with well by the Scotter keeper who made a couple of excellent saves.
Chappy continued to carry out his favourite duty.......doggies. Up and down, up and down. But after a couple of decisions not going his way the blue touch paper was finally lit and Chappy took the opportunity to pick up his obligatory yellow card. He got there as quick as he could. Sadly the ball was already 5 yards away! ‘Intent’ was clearly in evidence.
Half time arrived and Kenny persisted with his belief in the formation and the team and made a substitution bringing Gaz Dixon on for his debut in place of Jambo. This meant BJ pushed up top, sitting just behind the front two whilst Gaz partnered Fowler in the ‘engineroom’.
Scuns came out with a new belief and didn’t look like a team two goals down. After a few good moves where the forwards linked up well a 40 yard diagonal ball from Chappy found BJ on the egde of the left hand side of the box who disguised a left foot shot as a cross (!) and picked out Ridders who rattled the post. Chopper picked up the pieces and played Ridley in for a second chance but managed to miss the target from 6 yards when you would normally had bet at least a penny on him putting it away.
Finally the breakthrough came when a shot was blocked in the area, by what looked like a defender’s arm, but the ref played on only for Owen to get the ball at his feet and to then be unfairly challenged and this left the ref no option. Well, he could easily have not given it! After dispatching his effort so clinically the previous week, the one they call Goggles stepped up and made no mistake. Could this be the new Le Tissier???? 2-1. Game on.
With a new found belief Scuns took control and continued to push for an equaliser with Fowler and Dixon finding more space as they linked up with the forwards. Scotter tried to counter and created a couple of openings including Simmy trying to curl one into his own goal off his knee but with Belly covering there was never any danger!!!! Kempo, Pots and Simmo held firm as the rest of the team pushed for an equaliser. Scuns didn’t have to wait too long. A shot from Nicol was pushed out by the keeper but only to the feet of Chapman who had managed to doggy his way into the box and placed a neat shot into the corner of the net. 2-2. Would Scuns take the point and sit back or would they push for the win? What do you think........Belly showed why some people think he has wands as feet as he jinked passed two and the ball found it’s way to Nicol. He looked up and laid the ball into the path of Chapman who put an inviting ball into the box where (not your first choice to be honest with a header) Fowler stretched his neck muscles to guide the ball passed the static keeper. The celebration that followed was that from a team who might just start believing that this could be their year.
With just a minute to go Scuns thought they had done enough but the tiring Chapman was beaten to the by-line and the ball was somehow headed over from a yard. Phew!
That was it. Game over. 7 points from 3 games and maybe, just maybe, this could be the start of a new era........
Up the Scuns!
