A BRIGHT AND SUNNY OR SHOULD I SAY HOT AND SWEATY SUNDAY MORNING DOWN ON PECKHAM RYE!
We played Loughborough last week so we knew what we had to come when we turned up on the Rye. We couldn’t believe our luck when we got out on the pitch and realised there wasn’t a Ref. After numerous phone calls he came pondering across the field half hour late without a care in the world!
Taxi went for a change in formation switching from 4-4-2 to 4-3-3 for the first time this season. Taxi had the luxury again of having 4 substitutes which is shocking after having bear 11 on the opening game of the season????
From kick-off we stuck to our game plan, we knew we didn’t want to the ones chasing the ball in the blistering heat. With Stocky, Ben T and Wayne bolstering our midfield, we knew give them the ball and let them make something happen.
The game became a midfield battle which we seemed to be winning. We were producing some great pass’s cutting Loughborough to pieces. It was only going to be a matter of time before the clear opening was going to come. Then in one swift move Rooney got his head down to knee level to head home from 2 yards. That’s the Rooney of old we are used to seeing, not bottling out of anything!
Loughborough did show one glimpse of attacking football. They managed to somehow get one on one with our debutant goalkeeper Dan, who produced a great save with his outstretched legs. Other than that lapse in concentration the back four stood firm for the 1st 45 minutes.
The half time team talk was more of a re-hydration exercise. I don’t think anyone in this country would have been used to playing in 27 Celsius heat.
Taxi never made any changes in the break but we all knew they weren’t gona be long in coming. The Ref told both Captains before kickoff that he was gona have another interval half way through the 2nd half for everyone to take on WATER. The heat was affecting everyone including himself!!
Taxi made 2 quick subs in close successions, arguably bringing on our fastest two players Darren and Barry. In an instant they both combined down the left with a great one two, which Barry then headed over the stranded keeper. We all ran off in celebration then realised THEIR linesman had flagged that Barry was offside!! Barry played the ball into Darren then ran PAST the defender to head home, NEVER OFFSIDE!!
We did get our deserved second from the reliable but knackered at the time Ben T. Stocky took a cracking free kick that whipped across the box just between the last defender and Keeper. The defender and keeper left it for each other only for Ben to head home.
2 – 0 FINAL SCORE
We won 2 – 0 but the most pleasing issue is that this was our 2nd CLEAN SHEET of the season. We have now just conceded 2 goals in our last 4 outings which is an excellent standard at any level.
Credit goes to Man Of The Match Rhys whose presence has made a massive difference to our back four this season!!
