Rather than quite rightly moan about both those who inexplicably let The Ship down this morning (and those that it has become quite apparent just couldn't be bothered to get out of bed to help us or 'had something else on'), the plaudits must go to a superb team performance from 10 men who put all the previous weeks behind them to show battling determination, team spirit and the desire to fight for each other (oh and me for my penalty save). A deficit brought on by illness and more shocking no-shows was ignored by 10 of us who pitched up and put in an excellent performance that just lacked the bit of luck we needed. With Ollie Hurrey in nets, Digger playing centre-back with a bruised foot and Adil ploughing a lone furrow upfront - the odds were severely stacked against the Ship this week but unperturbed they got their heads down and dominated the opening exchanges. Passion, aggression and no small amount of quality was on display all over the park and Old Sergeant rarely tested Hurrey in goal. Playing a more direct brand of football, using Adil as an outlet and with Colesy and Digger in a centre-back pairing, The Ship looked cohesive and solid with even the likes of Charman playing left-wing showing good touches and creating effective passages of play. Chances were always going to be at a premium for the 10 men but it was the opposition's keeper who was seen scrambling across his goal on more than one occasion in the first 45. In comparison, Hurrey only had to palm a rising drive over the bar and shout incoherently at his back four.
At half-time, a completely different Ship emerged with shouts of encouragement and a level of positivity that has been sadly missing for many weeks and there was a feeling that they just might get something from the game. However, misfortune was to strike for the first time in second-half when Digger found the ball bouncing up into his out-stretched arm in the Ship box, handing Old Sergeant the perfect opportunity to break The Ship's resolve from the spot. (If anyone wants - I can talk you through the following in more detail at any time...) Hurrey tried to make himself look big (whilst his team-mates muffled laughs) and took one look at the opposition striker's run-up (who later told Hurrey that he'd never missed a penalty before) and hurled himself to his right to tip a good penalty just round the post. It was a moment that put an extra spring in The Ship's step but even this couldn't help moments later when the ball broke for the opposition striker in the box and his precision shot squirmed under the flailing left-hand of Hurrey to creep inside the post to give them the lead. In past weeks with 20 lads available, The Ship would have crumbled at this point, but instead the midfield duo of Atherton and Lammy led the fight back and it was Lammy who expertly lobbed the keeper following great effort by Adil to bring them level. A sense of belief was in the air once more and The Ship poured forward - Phil headed straight at the keeper, Adil fired wide and Lammy hit the bar plum on from fully 30 yards as they went searching for a famous win. Sadly it was misfortune that stripped the opportunity from their grasp when a poor, card-happy ref gave a very dodgy free-kick decision on the edge of the Ship box and the weak strike bounced over Colesy's knee and past the despairing Hurrey. Hurrey came up for a late corner and briefly considered a 20 yard over-head kick before the final whistle blew. Colesy was sent-off by the precious ref at the whistle when he misheard him berating their bad luck and both Pete and Lammy found themselves in the wally's book during a game that was not in the slightest worthy of such harsh refereeing.
Man of the Match goes to Jon Atherton - but not just for a superb performance in centre-mid. There was very little to choose from all 10 players but the likes of Pete, Jamie, Digger, Colesy, Lammy, Jon and Charman in particular were outstanding. Jon edges the vote because he made the effort to get in touch on Saturday to say he actually could play while everyone else was dropping out. Next week sees the Ship up against the league-leaders and another performance of this level is required (with hopefully more than 10 men) to continue to get the club back on track.
