An interesting game was always on the cards last Sunday; it had all of the signs. We arrived at ‘Fortress Blenheim’ for our first home game of the season (that we had a pitch for) in a chipper mood but the weather was quite disgusting with torrential rain and wind which looked to have ruined the possibility of a good game.
The Thunder warmed up in these conditions right-up until the starting line-up was announced, then the rain stopped…curious. Thunder was playing a 4-4-2 formation with a back four of Martin, Pete the Rock, Rhys and Lovejoy. Jamie and Gary were played in the centre of midfield with Larry and JD on the flanks…leaving Muller and Ben up top.
The game started off in a rather lack-lustre style…both teams looking at each other and the style of play that the 90 minutes would have to offer. The first goal came half way through the first half when a cross from the left sailed to the far side of the area where a nice little bit of control from JD was followed by a chip across the goal where Ben ghosted in at the back stick to nod the ball home….good start and probably deserved on balance of play. Im afraid to say that I missed the second goal after a pull of the quad muscle left me on the side lines briefly…but I understand that a through ball from the midfield was tucked away by the ‘lethal’ Ben for his second.
The next ten minutes was strange as four goals were scored from nowhere, starting with a great finish from one of the Westcliffe forwards after an initial shot cannoned of the Thunder’s bar. The United equaliser shall not be discussed as it is still a sore point for Adam…who some how fumbled a weak shot from 20 yards into his own net…although he would make up for this gaff five times over in the remainder of the match. This crazy five minute spell caused the Thunder to respond and switch back on…with Jamie running the midfield with a great array of passing….the goals would continue. Filip Muller scored the third with a challenge with the goal keeper that Muller won through and put away with some part of his anatomy….and the forth goal just before half time? Well, Gary wont mind me saying that he will probably not hit a worse shot from the edge of the box that still managed to find a path to the corner of the net….Jamie was more shocked as three of his long range power efforts found the keeper in top form.
Half time and with score at 4-2 to the Thunder things were looking up…a possible first win for the lads….and the changes came with Dan Overing coming on for the very hard working Larry (who had a good game on the left flank).
With the Thunder in a supposed safe position…they played the ball nicely around and controlled the opening period of the second half…although the Arsenal disease of trying to walk the ball into the goal started to appear (nice to be compared to Arsenal). After ten minutes JD was replaced by Anders then five minutes later Dunley came on for Henwood…and no-one could believe the next twenty minutes as Westcliff United found themselves four goals from nothing more than ‘long – ball’ tactics…and but for Ad The Cat….it could have been more. Seeing the away team score their sixth…Dan decided that some shots needed to be taken as the Westcliff goalkeeper was looking dodgy…so a halfway line shot from the kick off found its way in to the top corner for 5-6. This goal was not only spectacular but strange as JD and Martin (whilst on the touchline) defiantly heard the keeper utter the words ‘don’t worry boys…well wide’….hahahaha….top bins thanks you very much. The last five minutes was Thunder pressure that paid off with Ben being put through by the ever energetic Muller for the equaliser. With that and a near goal direct from a JG corner…and three goal line clearances….it was one hell of a GAME! Next stop Basildon for Pro Max away…stab proof vests and Essex wide-boy dictionaries ready as we look for the elusive first win!!!
