Despite last week’s narrow defeat, Quim went into this duel against Rodallega bombs with renewed optimism and motivation. Many positives could be drawn from last week’s game, I’m told, especially defensively considering the miraculous effort of conceding just the two goals. Player/Coach Williams was back from his travels to organise the side and carry out his usual UEFA-B licensed training drill.
Quim lined up first half with Punshon in goal, Prettygate bm4l’s Stretch and Cooke at the back, Frost in a central midfield role, with Palmer “getting the goals” – and the girls - up top. Matters voluntarily opted to take his place among the substitutes bench suffering from an untimely bout of fatigue having exercised merely 12 hours earlier a session in what can only be described as trying to force spaghetti down a keyhole.
Quim started the game in a relatively calming manner, knocking the ball around well amongst the 4 outfield players and ‘sweeper-keeper’ Punshon. They even could have made the dream start when a ball across the box managed to elude Stretch for what seemed from my view as a simple tap in, and has since been swept largely under the radar considering the player of his quality. Head in hands Matters and Williams on the sidelines felt as though it may be one of those days once again. Especially since what followed could’ve spelled disaster for Quim’s promotional hopes. Completely against the run of play, Rodallega Bombs managed to slot one passed the onrushing Punshon to take a surprise lead. Shortly after, Rodallega Bombs managed to strike another effort on target unsettling Punshon’s footwork, merely for the ball to roll through Quim’s hapless keeper. Bad day at the office it would appear for Punshon – maybe his mind was elsewhere, couldn’t possibly know. Alas this sparked a change in form that even year 9 Sean would’ve been proud of, pulling off a number of centre-of-excellence saves.
2-0 down is a dangerous scoreline in football as all involved in the game will tell you, and this could not have been better demonstrated under the lights of Boda this evening. After some neat passing play on the left between Matters and Stretch, Stretch was bundled to the ground approximately 14.5 yards out – or as Daryl would say – 35 yards out. Credit to the lad though, as he was able to strike the ball low and hard passed the wall into near corner of the goal giving Quim that drive that they needed going into half-time; preventing and trademark Williams tantrums.
Quim came out for the second half like a dog on heat and struck immediately with Punshon and Frost combining up top to give Frost his second goal of the game. Soon after, Frost got himself onto the assist sheet, releasing stretch to dispatch with an Henry-like finish into the far corner.
What a turnaround! – One would think…
After some rather gung-ho attacking play Quim were exposed defensively, causing Punshon to fly in with a last ditch tackle even year 10 Stuart Chilvers would’ve been proud of. Alas, Punshon had clearly not read the rule book prior to the match as he has been instructed to do on countless occasions, meaning Rodallega Bombs were gifted with the opportunity from the spot, in which in turn they dispatched. 3-3 – anybody’s game now. Quim needed to get back on top, Rodallega Bombs were causing far more trouble than their ability would suggest.
Cometh the man, cometh the hour.
Like Rocky in Rocky, Spartacus in Spartacus, and Batman in Batman, Quim needed a saviour, a leader, an inspiration to settle the nerves and unite the team. What came next was a moment of pure class provided by second half keeper Cooke. Rodallega Bombs’ renewed confidence in attack meant that they were committing players forward. However, as yet another of their hapless attacks broke down, Cooke was on hand to with simply one touch, caress a 30 yard ball into the path of Palmer in which he adeptly finished with a cheeky lob over the keeper.
This moment of magic conveyed the gulf in talent between the two sides, clearly affecting the Bombs’ players, enabling Quim to convert their dominance into another couple of fine goals from Stretch and Palmer respectively. A mere consolation was to follow ending the game at 6-4 to the mighty Quim. A win was just what the boys needed after a tricky tail end to the previous campaign. With the new kit to arrive soon, Quim will be strutting their stuff in a new look claret and blue number provided by kit man Punshon whom I’m told is in the latter stages of negotiations with Missoula Colchester as official team sponsor – provided Matters keeps getting the bottles – and the girls – in. Quim will also be buoyed by the imminent return to action of their talismanic skipper Williams. Let’s hope Quim can go from strength to strength after this result, and avoid flopping at the crucial moments later on in the season.
Up the Quim!
