Ventolin Inhalers produced the shock of the season, roundly beating current premiership champions Fairlight Garage 5-4 in a thrilling encounter in the seasons final round of games.
Ventolin went into the game without Skipper Tony Dain, sidelined with a groin injury and with Joe Plass climbing off his sick bed for the second week in a row to make up the 5. Ventolin called upon emergency goal keeper Steve Winter, allowing Ventolin the luxury of a substitute and also insurance encase Plass could was unable to continue.
As the teams lined up to face one another in the final fixture of the season, for the 4th season in a row, you could sense the feeling of anticipation in the air.
Ventolin started quickly, pressing the Fairlight boys back, Archdeacon started brightly, holding the ball up well, allowing Andy and Loz to join the attacks, while Plass marshalled the back line.
1-0 Ventolin took an early lead after more good hold up play from Archdeacon, who this time, used his own vision to play a defence splitting pass through to the surging Ross, who crashed the ball home in style. The lead didnt last for long as a shot that was going wide was somehow steered into his own net by Plass. Ventolin were soon 2-1 down after another defensive mistake resulted in Winter deflecting the ball off his own head into the goal.
This seemed somewhat harsh on the Inhalers who had certainly been having the best of the play, with both Loz and Archdeacon going close, before Barton contrived to miss when confronted with an open goal.
Fortunately BArton soon made amends, after a fine team move, he played a fine ball into Plass who thundered the ball past the hapless Fairlight keeper. 2-2 and with that the half time whistle sounded.
The second half started with Ventolin again pressing forward, Loz found himself in a good position after some wing play, only to shoot when Archdeacon was in the clear. Fairlight again punished the profilgacy in front of goal and in form Fairlight striker Marshy lashed home a fine strike to put the garage once mroe into the lead.
This only galvanised the Inhalers and ths time it was Robinson who found his scoring feet, collecting another good ball from Barton, Loz beat the keeper and slipped the ball home.
There was now only one team in it and it ws no suprise when Archdeacon who was having one of his best games of the season, tapped in from 3 yards after another great team move ending in Robinson passing a fine ball into the inform striker, who made no mistake.
4-3 and still the inhalers pressed and with great reward as MOM Archdeacon held off two defenders before finishing sweetly, securing all three points and Ventolins best points tally since regaining promotion to the premiership..Plass played a superb ball out of defence to Ross, who found Archdeacon and as they say the rest was history!
Being the eternal crowd pleasers there was still time for Ventolin to concede again as Plass who played manfully under difficult circumstances, gave the ball away under no pressure, only to see fairlight nip in and score.
That though was that and as Ventolin kicked off the referee blew his whistle to signal the end of a pulsating game. And one in which the Inahlers fully deserved their victory and perhaps by greater margin.
The team were ecstatic at ptichside Ross enthused about the quality of football, Archdeacon was playing down his own contribution in a night of all round great team performance.
The final word goes to Plass, who thought everyone was superb tonight and against what is the hardest side to play in the league. Now we have a balance regular team we can really compete, Andy has been superb and Archdeacon is on fire at the moment. Next season promises much for a team high on confidence, as well as style!
