THE BIGGIEST DISATER FROM START TO FINISH SPRINGS TO MIND!!!
When we turned up in the changing room nobody could believe we were looking at having bear 11 again for the third time in 6 games this season. I can’t see how we have 4 substitutes to choose from last week, then NONE this week??
We kicked off late due to Elmstead’s management turning up late, but we got off to a perfect start. The USUALLY ever present and reliable Ben in goal gathered the ball in well and saw Darren B out on the right in aches of space. His punt up pitch couldn’t have been any better, straight into the stride of Darren. Darren looked up and with his first touch produced a blinding shot at goal. Their keeper made a good save but parried the ball into the path of Rooney who finished with great ease.
1 – 0 up and we would normally expect us to build on this but the opposite happened!!
Straight from our goal Elmstead to be fair stepped up a gear and put us under a lot of pressure. From a corner their winger lost his marker and had a simple header on the goal line to equalise.
1 – 1 then the arguing started which is like pressing the self destruct button with us.
Then disaster happened in quick succession from two silly mix ups in defence. First Wayne and Ben went for the same ball, but none of them took control of the situation. This gifted Elmstead an easy tap in which I couldn’t stop on the line. This sparked arguments between Wayne, Ben T, Barry, Ben A and even Rooney. With us acting like kids on a Men’s football pitch, Elmstead struck again. This time I passed the ball back to Ben in goal who had a simple pass out wide but instead miss-kicked it to their striker. The striker couldn’t believe his luck being gifted 2 of his easiest ever goals!!
ALL OUT CARNAGE HAPPENED THEN…
With us just going 3 – 1 down EVERYONE started to argue. Ben in goals head totally dropped by this stage and “gave up”. He was more interested in arguing with Taxi off the pitch than concentrating on the game.
Then the inevitable happened and Elmstead scored their deserved 4th on the stroke of half time. It was from a sloppy cross from the right which Ben should of came and gathered. Their winger came in from the right and slotted home with ease. Ben attitude then was just to shrug his shoulders.
Thank God then the Ref blew for half time, to the dismay of Elmstead, who knew they had us on the ropes!!
There was NO tactics in the team talk, just as usual arguing. Ben took off his gloves off and threw them at Taxi and QUIT on the spot. With NO subs we had to play the last 45 minute with 10 men. I tried talking to Ben but he was adamant he was NEVER playing for us again.
From kick off Elmstead and Myself couldn’t believe the football we were playing. We were ALL over Elmstead and Wayne who went in goal for us was nothing but a spectator.
We then received a life line from the usual outlet of Ben T. Stocky again was the provider. Stocky received the ball down the left and within one swift motion left the defender for dead. He then looked up and picked out Ben T running into the box. Ben produced a quality header into the top corner to give us a chance.
We had total control of the game, to be fair it was down to Stocky and Barry in the centre of the park. They were having a quality second 45 in contrast to the 1st. Elmstead then got awarded a fortunate corner which the Ref could never ever of seen. From the resulting corner the ball fell into the path of their striker who again couldn’t miss. Wayne couldn’t do nothing but watch the ball fly straight past him into the back of the net.
WE DIDN’T DESERVE THAT!!
We keep plying the pressure and never gave up. After numerous chances Rooney latched onto another great cross from Stocky to bury home from 4 yards out. Elmstead couldn’t believe our “never say die” attitude and I reckon if the game was 100 minutes long we would of gave them a good run for their money.
FULL TIME 5 – 3
What disaster after last week’s clean sheet. I know we were missing Rhys at the heart of the defence but as a team we didn’t work well. Now Ben Keeper has quit we have to find a new shot stopper. Taxi now has his work cut out to motivate the players again for 2 weeks time for our Cup against Eltham Town. Hopefully we have more than just bear 11 players aswel!!
