Oaks Athletic 1 – 2 Stanford Wanderers

After last week’s shambolic display we can be much happier with this performance. The way we conceded the two goals was still disappointing, but if it hadn’t been for their goalkeeper (and if the wind had died at the right moment), these two goals would have been no more than a consolation. On the plus side the memory of seeing Jason score from 25 (ish) yards has replaced the one of him wearing nothing but his lucky speedos (and I can sleep at night).

Milesy decided a change in formation may help, and called in Jason to replace the injured Gollum in a 4-5-1 set-up:


ppppaaaaaaaaaaaaaNNeil (GK)

pppJimmy (RB) Rob (CB) Milly (CB) Deano (LB)

pppppppppppp Jason (CM) Stu (CM) (c)

Nathan (RM) pppppppSharpy (AM)pppppp Eye-Ball (LM)

ppppaaaaaaaaaaappppppAl (CF)

subs: Parker, Aaron

There is no denying that Stanford are a good footballing side, and they definitely looked worthy of their lofty position in the league. However, their good passing triangles were largely ineffective thanks to the dogged work of Jason and Stu, who received good support from the rest of the side. Even Sharpy looked to be enjoying the challenge of supporting both the midfield in defence, and Al in attack – even if he was looking for somewhere to crawl and die after 10 minutes.

With both sides adopting a high line, and also both choosing to pack the midfield no one had much time on the ball. This worked to our advantage as there was no alternative but to look for the short, easy pass, and we started putting some good plays together although the final ball was still lacking at times. The high line also meant we conceded less corners which we were thankful to avoid after last week!

The first goal of the game could have gone either way, but of course can only go one way. This time it went the way of the Oaks thanks to that man in his lucky speedos. Having collected the loose ball following a good tackle by Stu, Jason connected sweetly(?) with his wrong foot from 25 yards and the ball floated over the helpless Stanford keeper and into the net. He’d better keep his eye on those lucky speedos as you never know what desperation will do to a man (and I want a goal!).

The Oaks were spurred on by this goal, and could have easily gone into the break 3-0 up if Al hadn’t been denied by the cross bar having expertly lofted the ball over the on-rushing Stanford keeper, and the scoring machine Rob hadn’t seen his effort superbly cleared off the line. As it was we had to settle for a 1-0 lead at the break.

Unfortunately (as the final score line would suggest) the second half didn’t go quite as well as the first. The Stanford keeper may have been a bit disappointed with the goal he conceded in the first half, but he more than made up for it in the second with two amazing saves; the first from a point blank header by Sharpy, and the second denying Rob when Al laid the ball back to him in the box for what seemed a certain goal. If either of these efforts had found the back of the net that would have been game over.

The doggy life that these saves had handed Stanford, combined with the withdrawal of Jason and Deano (the first through fatigue and the latter thanks to a dead leg inducing collision with our petit goalie) obviously unsettled The Oaks, and Stanford took control.

I always think that being the goalkeeper is a thankless task, and that it is the one position where an error is hard to forget (as it is usually accompanied by the name of an opposition player on the score sheet). Neil has been consistently superb this season, and if the equaliser had come at 4, rather than 1 nil it probably wouldn’t even be worth mentioning that a tame shot was allowed to slip under his body. Now Neil is a big man (in character), and I’m sure he wont let this spoil his otherwise fine form.

Stanford now had their tails up, and The Oaks started to look a bit ragged. Still, we were keeping them at bay and Neil didn’t really have any saves to make. And when Stanford took the lead thanks to a fortuitous slice that gave Neil no chance we could have been forgiven for thinking it wasn’t going to be our day. However, you make your own luck in this game and I think we felt that ours had followed Jason to the changing room. We weren’t able to respond and the score finished at 2-1 to Stanford.

We can take heart from the fact that this was a definite improvement on last week, and I for one am looking forward to have another crack at Stanford next week.

Have a great Christmas everyone and don’t put on too much weight (apart from Gollum).

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sun 28th Dec – Away v Stanford Wanderers @ The Billet – 10:30 K.O.

Here is a map showing the location of the Billet in Stanford. Basically turn right at the first round-about half way down the manor way, take the first left and then the first right:

<http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=the+billet+stanford-le-hope&sll=53.800651,-4.064941&sspn=18.598503,38.759766&ie=UTF8&z=15>

Goal Scoring Chart:

CORRECTION – I inexplicably awarded one of Robbie’s goals last week to an opposition player, so Sharpy and Al should definitely be worried!