Ventolin Inhalers secured their place in next seasons premiership with a superb 5-1 Victory against FC Hammers. Had the result gone the other way then the Hammers would have leapfrogged Ventolin into 4th place, leaving them needing a victory against champions Fairlight Garage in their final game of the season.
Ventolin were rocked earlier in the day when regular striker John Archdeacon was ruled out, following an incident at the weekend which left the striker with a twisted knee. Inhalers legend Joe Plass was also close to pulling out, due to an injury sustained the previous week, fortunately his passion for Ventolin ensured he took his place in the side, while Tony Dain was also nursing a slight groin strain following a lack of match preparation the previous week - all in all things were not looking ideal for Ventolin in what was going to be the seasons key match.
As the teams lined up for kick off, Ventolin cast aside their aches and pains and set about the Hammers with a determined intensity. Quick to the tackle Ventolin were soon pressing forward.. Dain playing in a more advanced role missed an early chance, after being played in by Plass, curling the ball against the bar, Ross then went close with a low drive, before Robinson also could have scored after crafting an opening for himself. The hammers keeper was on fine form too, making several good saves. Then against the run of play, Ventolin found themselves a goal behind. A speculative shot from the Hammers striker, going through the hands of the normally reliable Barton in the Inhalers goal.
The Hammers now had their best moments of the game, creating a number of chances, including two one on ones, both of which Barton did superbly to foil. As well as going close after a mistake in the Inhalers defence.
The Inhalers soon regained some control and pressed forward with even greater desire. This time they made no mistake, after a good move involing Dain and Robinson, Ross fired the ball home from 15 yards, after making a superb burst from defence. Robinson then went close after being played in by dain, seeing his shot parried to safety by the keeper.
Ventolin continued to dominate possession with all outfield players involved, from the next attack, Ross played in Plass, who played a crossfield ball to robinson, who beat his man before firing across goal, for Dain who had run into the box, only to see him stab it wide with his left foot.
From the very next attack, Plass went close after being played in by Ross, seeing his shot well saved, although the defender could only clear the ball to Ross who again fired home from just outside the box.
As the half time whistled sounded Ventolin walked off looking forward to pressing home their advantage in the second half. And this they did.
While the Hammers are a dangerous side going forward, they do leave big spaces at the back - something Ventolin exploited to perfection as the half wore on.
Ventolin started the half brightly, pressing the Hammers players into making mistakes and giving away possession. Ross and Plass were keeping things tight at the back and giving robinson and dain plenty of posession higher up the pitch. Robinson soon found himself clear on goal, only to be thwarted by a fine save from the in form keeper. Robinson should have made it 3-1 shortly after when he was gifted possession by the Hammers defender, leaving him one on one with the keeper. Too much hesitation allowed the keeper to again parry away robinsons effort. Plass then played Dain through, who just as he was about to strike the ball, was tackled from behind, and not even earning a corner in the process.
Ross then played a ball down the line to dain, who angled a pass across the box for Plass at the far post, who slid in only to see the last defender hook the ball off the line.
At 2-1 still Ventolin were causing some angst amongst their fans, as this failure to convert any of these chances could prove costly. This was nearly the case, after some fine attacking play by the hammers left the striker through on goal, only to see barton tip his shot over the bar. The same striker then skewed tha ball wide after a clever short corner.
Again Ventolin went in search of the goal that would win the game... and this time they made no mistake with a classic counter attack. Dain won the ball in his own half and seeing Ross in the clear played a thorugh ball , which Ross dispatched in style. 3-1 and the fans could breathe easy.
As the Hammers pressed forward in search of goals, Dain played a ball out to Ross, who beat his man before, passing to robinson who only had the keeper to beat. After some clever footwork Robinson, flicked the ball cooly past the keeper to increase ventolins lead further.
Plass then played in Ross, who again found himself clear on goal, only this time he fired it just off the post and wide. With Plass begining to tire, and dain aggravating his thigh strain, there was relief the game was all but over. Plass finding himself near the hammers goal, completed the scoring after he deflected another Ross strike into the empty net. 5-1 and that was that, a powerful victory against a good side, and five goals to boot.
Man of the Match and Hatrick Hero Ross, was pleased with the whole teams effort, and played down his own heroics. I used to shoot much harder than that said the veteren defender. I could have had six but im happy with 3.
Joe Plass who had played through the pain barrier, was knackered but happy when he spoke to the BBC Sports interviewer. That was a really good game, we were tight, worked hard and scored some good goals, although we could have scored more if we had made the most of our chances.
Ventolin conclude their season against champions Fairlight Garage next week, in a game of much less importance, although against our rivals Fairlight every game has an edge with both sides still keen to win.
