Greyhound 4 - 1 Oaks Athletic (League game 2)

Thankfully it is rare that I have to report on a heavy defeat for The Oaks. The only positive is that the report tends to take less time to write as everyone knows it’s unhealthy to dwell on the irreversible anguish that such situations contribute to. Certain mitigating circumstances could be pointed at – the lack of manager, team captain, and both halves of the regular centre back partnership spring to mind – but ultimately the match was a contest between two sets of eleven mortals, and was one in which the Oaks came up a long way short.

The eleven unlikely lads who took to the field were:

ppppppppppppppTyrone (GK)


ppScott (RB) Deano (CB) Eye-Ball (CB) Jimmy (LB)


pNathan (RM) (c) Al (CM) Bill (CM) Aaron (LM)


pppppppppppParker (CF) Sharpy (CF)
Subs:

I always think that the edge The Oaks have over many of the others is the balance between youth and experience. Unfortunately we weren’t missing these in equal measure for this match, with all those unavailable being seasoned campaigners. This, along with the fact that we were playing one of the top teams in the division, no doubt contributed to the nerves that were evident before kick-off. There were none more nervous than Deano and Eye-ball, who were much more comfortable when the linesman’s flag was within striking distance. Although to be fair to Deano, he has played at centre half regularly in the past, and had shared a successful relationship with Eye-ball in this position in a previous match.

The Oaks started the match brightly, playing some good passing football and putting the opposition under pressure when the ball was lost. They then deservedly took the lead when the long throw of Nathan once again earned an assist as Sharpy rose superbly at the back post to head the ball home from 6 yards. 1-0 to the Oaks.

Although Greyhound looked a dangerous threat, the Oaks were successfully keeping them at bay. However, all their Christmas’s were to come at once as Eye­-Ball all but gifted them one goal, and then might as well have been stuck up the chimney when they took the lead soon after.

Statistics can be deceiving; only conceding one foul in the 90 minutes might be a stat most centre backs would be proud of. But when that one foul is via a tackle that was so late you would have thought the clocks had gone forward, and is inside the 18 yard box, you may have well gone onto the pitch wielding a sledge hammer. Greyhound subsequently licked the plate clean from 12 yards. 1-1.

The idea of putting the ball out for a throw is that it’s a lot less risky than trying to beat the man bearing down on you, and also gives you and your team-mates time to re-group. However it helps if you manage to kick the ball further than two yards over the touch-line. Greyhound reacted much quicker than the Oaks were able to, and a disorganised and under-strength Oaks defence was unable to stop the ball once again rippling the back of the net. 2-1 to Greyhound.

Going from leading to losing so quickly would hit most teams for six, and the score would have got even worse if it hadn’t been for a superb last ditch tackle from Jimmy when the striker had the goal at his mercy. The Oaks did have chances to score, but these mainly came from set pieces that we weren’t able to convert and the half ended with the score still 2-1 to Greyhound.

With 20 minutes played in the second half in which the Oaks had spent most of the time defending it was decided we needed to push another man upfront to support the strikers. Given the score-line this was a risk worth taking, but unfortunately it didn’t pay off as another sloppy goal was conceded when Greyhound were allowed to cross and finish from close range.

In possession the Oaks had just about run out of ideas, but without the ball there was a dogged determination shown by all in the red and black. The stand-out contribution being from Bill, who had worked tirelessly throughout the match and deserved better, when chasing back from a failed free kick from just outside the opposition’s 18 yard box, than to see the ball in the net having single-handedly blocked the first 3 or 4 attempts. 4-1 to Greyhound.

Although this is how the game ended, there were definitely some positives to take from this game, with players who don’t usually get 90 minutes showing they were able deputies, who will give Milesy real headaches if they continue to make such telling contributions. We also saw the first recorded full blooded sliding tackle from Aaron, and it was a beauty!


Given time this line-up could be successful (and maybe one day may have to be), but to call this a baptism of fire would be an understatement. Hopefully everyone enjoyed the challenge, and is looking forward to next week when we get the chance to start again from scratch.

Eye – Ball

Next Match – Sun 18h October v Lakeside @ Blackshots (Home so 09:45 meet)

Scoring chart (not included cup stats)