Dreams of a clean sweep were put on ice when Joel reported ill late Saturday night and Sam simply failed to turn up. It only needs 11 but at 10.30 we still only had 8 men ready as Dan, Bill and Olli decided to take the scenic route.KO was delayed 10 mins but when we did kick off we were unprepared and without clear instructions regarding shape, positions and responsibilty and we were a poor imitation of a last four county cup side.
Our situation wasn't helped by a rabbit warren of a pitch that hadn't been lined and we failed to adapt to the poor surface and conditions. We were further set on edge when we conceded an early goal in a scramble which saw the ball ricochet around the area before finding the net. Up front Olli's frustrations grew as he failed to find any sort of rhythm and he flitted in and out of the game whilst Kim struggled to get the ball out of his feet to release players around him. After less than half an hour Joe retired ill and we conceded again before the break as Dan's unlucky backward header played them in to make it 2-0.
Half time was a welcome opportunity for us to settle down, for Gary and John to work out a second half tactic and to remind everyone that on any given Sunday we'd back 10 Association players against any other 11, even from a higher division with a 2 goal start. We just needed to rediscover our quality and belief and to trust in our ability to respond.
Within 5 minutes of the re-start we conceded a third to a slick counter and their headed finish was good but as it turned out not good enough to kill us off. Minutes later saw our first passage of quality play, a sweeping team move saw Kim cross accurately for Olli to slot home from close range
This goal was the trigger we needed to change the game plan.The plan was to go 3-3-3 for the last 30 minutes and to go long, by-passing Harry, Dan and Lee and hitting Olli, Kim and Kyle early. The change worked a treat with the front 3 receiving the ball quicker in danger areas. Olli came more into the game and the front 3 became a front 4 as Dan's lung busting runs saw him latch on to two of Olli's crosses to bring us level - fantastic commitment rewarded with two Bryan Robson stlye goals.
Approaching full time Littlebury looked certainties to nick the game when for the second time they raced clear onto a backward header from Dan but Gary raced out to bravely smother the ball at their strikers feet, its great to have a proper 'keeper. We would have welcomed penalties with Gary between the sticks but instead had to face another 30 minutes of graft. Within 5 minutes Kyle had raced clear to latch onto Ollis clever through ball to cooly put us ahead for the first time in the game.
Chippy, Ryan and Bill were magnificent at the back - big up for Bill, this was a strong, confident and committed performance in a hot hot game. Kim dug deep and dropped in to help Dan and Harry in the dirty areas of the pitch whilst Lee put in a disciplined show protecting Bill and backing up hard working Kyle. Despite everyone doing their bit we finally softly conceded possession on our left and Littlebury crafted a well worked equaliser.
With just minutes to go time seemed to slow down as the ball arrived at Olli's feet back to goal, going away from goal, left hand edge of the 18 yard box. One step, half turn, two step, half turn, settle, have look, left arm out to hold off the defender, foot wrapped round and through the ball. keeper looks - its going high and wide - no its not - postage stamp in the corner, net ripples all shag Olli. Fabulous strike and another contender.
For long periods today we were ragged and indisciplined, all balls and heart but hey, 3-0 down against "senior" opposition with only 10 players (some injured) demands a different game plan, sometimes you have to win ugly and we can reflect that all our goals, especially Olli's 5th were a reminder of how pretty we can be.
