THE EXPRESSION “GAME OF TWO HALFS” FITS THE BILL FOR THIS CHAMPIONSHIP DECIDER!!
1ST HALF - Strickland 3 VS Station 0
2nd HALF - Strickland 0 VS Station 3
FULL TIME - Strickland 3 VS Station 3
Before the game we couldn’t believe we had bear 11 players, so Taxi had no choice but had to fit players in. This was billed to be our biggest game of the season, so God knows why half the team turned up hung-over and others didn’t even bother getting out of bed!!
END OF THE DAY WE ARE PLAYING SUNDAY FOOTBALL SO GOT TO EXPECT IT!! We will look back and realise that today we should of grabbed our chance and WON the league!?
Even before kick-off there was no motivation, nobody wanted to take the warm up and the mood in the camp was the most negative that I’ve seen ALL season!
All the negativity before kickoff proved to be our down fall. Within the 1st 3 minutes we found ourselves 1 down to a freak own goal. Strickland took a corner from the left which bounced in front of WAYNE at the front post. He swung his “normally reliable” left boot at it to clear but converted it into the top corner!! He looked straight at the floor (implying a bobble) but knew it was just a misjudgement on his part! GREAT START!!!! But we all told him to get his chin UP!!
If things were bad then they got worse within minutes! Again we played ourselves into trouble and got punished. Little Ben took a short goal kick to Dean on the left, who turned into trouble. Their winger grabbed the ball and ended up through on goal! Dean then tripped him up, gave away a penalty and was SO lucky not to be sent off! They converted the penalty with ease sending Ben the wrong way.
THIS IS WHEN THE ARGUING STARTED AGAIN BETWEEN US AS USUAL!!!
WHATEVER TAXI WAS SAYING TO GET US GOING WAS FALLING ON “DEAF EARS” NOBODY SEEMED INTERESTED!!
Things could have got ALOT worse when I stupidly tripped a Strickland player as he ran at me through the middle. PENALTLY awarded again but the Strickland striker hit “row Z” with his shot. What a let off for ME and the TEAM!
It was only going to be a matter of time before Strickland grabbed their 3rd, due to the lack of passion SOME of our key players were showing! They did get their deserved 3rd from a corner again. Nobody tracked the Strickland Captain at the back post who superbly headed into the top corner!!
HALF TIME 3 – 0 DOWN “what an absolute nightmare”
There was no team talk just the typical negative comments and of course big arguments!! EVERYBODY was of the opinion that the 2nd half was going to be the same as the 1st.
For the 2nd half we made a tactical switch in swapping Bradley and Wayne. With Wayne in the centre midfield, it brought an instant impact. Wayne latched onto the ball about 25 yards out and with his “trusty left boot” let fly into the top left corner. Their keeper never stood a chance! 3 -1 GAME ON
For the next 20 minute period of the game we become totally in control and had Strickland rattled. We stopped arguing, started to play like a team and this brought our key players back in action.
We got our 2nd of the game through a great delivery from Stocky out of out left side. Ben T managed to lose his marker and glanced a header past the stranded keeper! 3 – 2 GAME DEFINATLY BACK ON!!
Everyone was pumped up with adrenaline and Strickland were totally on the back foot.
Our clearest chance to get back on level terms was from another quality through ball from Stocky. The ball put Phil through on goal, but due to it being on his right side he had to take a touch, which saw their defender making the clearance. WHAT A CHANCE!!!!!!
Phil did get his deserved goal when he beat the off side trap to control a delightful ball Stocky again. In an instance he crested the ball down and slotted it past the advancing keeper!! 3 – 3 WHAT A COMEBACK But we knew a draw wouldn’t have been good enough.
FINAL WHISTLE 3 – 3
If the game was over 100 minutes not 90, I’m sure we would of got the deserved WINNER!!
Taxi couldn’t have asked for anymore out of us in the 2nd HALF. Strickland are a well drilled team and to beat them 3 – 0 is a great result! What a shame we didn’t do it in the 1st HALF.
I’ve got to mention Rooney who stood out for us yesterday. From start to finish he ran his heart out and done the work of 2 – 3 players. Absolutely EXCELLENT performance!!
2 games left NOW and the best position we can make is 2nd place depending on results!!
