Floodlights, driving rain and black and white stripes - where have we seen that before!
The final game of an erratic season which has seen us hit majestic highs and pitiful lows brought a vintage team performance and the reward of another league and cup double in which everyone has played an important part. There was to be no cameo roles for either Steve or Glen as a full bloodied tie hung in the balance for much of the game.
The deployment of two holding players to give us 5 going forward and 5 behind the ball seemed the perfect platform but it never turned out that way. The two main points from the pre-match were 1.close them down early in the final third as they like to get long range strikes off and 2. avoid soft free kicks in our half. As in previous weeks we went out empty headed allowing them to run at us and unleash a 3rd minute 25 yard low strike to trouble Revill on a greasy pitch. A minute later a rash challenge by chippy on a Saints player going nowhere near the halfway line gave them the soft free kick which they duly converted. At 1-0 down we were rattled and started to rush things playing loose, blind passes and diving in all around the pitch.
We eventually played our way back into the game and in the 13th Andy was clear 1 on 1 but an unusual poor touch allowed the 'keeper to smother and the opportunity was missed. We kept up the pressure with Ryan and Kim linking to release Andy but he was closed down as looked to cross for an open goal and the chance drifted away followed by a poorly taken corner. Our confidence on the ball was growing and in the 16th minute Josh sparked into life and his clever interchange with Olli allowed Olli to cross low for Kim to slot home at the end of a driving run - that was more like it.
Having worked our way back into the game we never quite managed to dominate a tough Saints side and all around the pitch we lacked the composure which would have seen us put the game to bed. Mark slipped back into hollywood crosses, the earlier miss continued to play on Andy's nerves as we struggled to capitalise on half chances and Kim had a sticky period conceding a needless freekick and he joined Sam playing blind passes. There were flickers of quality, notably Ryan's driving run with Sam which saw him flash a shot across the goal but we went in level at half time largely thanks to a centre spine of Jack, Chippy and Revill who each did the simple things well.
At half time we knew that Saints were performing to their peak and that we were playing nowhere near our best so our challenge would be to find another gear and rediscover at least our drive if not some better form.
We came out with a better mentality and in the 48th Jack played a ball beyond Olli into space, Olli latched on to it, drove into their half and slipped the ball to Josh who was fouled as he was about to pull the trigger - a stonewall penalty. Penalty King Kim fluffed his lines with a poor attempt from the spot which the 'keeper parried but Sam was on hand to follow up and net from a tight angle - well done Sam. Within a couple of minutes Billy was caught by his own indecision and Revill could do little to prevent them levelling. In the 55th Pearcy withdrew with cramp and Kyle came on, instead of reshuffling Kyle was sent to cause havoc at the top end instead of in our defence. In the 60th Josh was withdrawn for Darryl and Jack withdrawn to play a lone holding role.
Within 5 minutes Jack drove through the middle and his slotted through ball matched Mark's well timed run and Mark neatly slipped the ball home to restore our lead at 3-2. We didnt hold on for long and another mistake on our right let them in for a cheap leveller. For the final quarter of the game we found our rhythm, purpose and voices and playing like this there was only ever going to be one winner. With 5 to go another well timed ball from Jack freed Sam who looked to be the one to clinch the winner but he was closed down at the last minute and it was havoc reeker Kephalas who was on hand to pick up the loose ball and prod home the deciding goal.
It was pretty in parts and pretty awful in others but we got the job done - and even better, we finished the game and the season as we started, playing fluent powerful football as a team. We deserved to win so well done. All credit to Saints they pulled out a season's best performance and showed what a good side they can be, probably on the night the odd goal was just about the right margin between the sides. Credit this time to all the officials who allowed the game to flow at the right tempo and temperature, no complaints about the yellows but i'll pay these fines as we won the cup.
Feet up and watch all the end of season drama and then the Euros and then the Olympics. In between we'll plan for next seasons tilt for the top prize of a premiership title (and maybe another cup, or two!).
