ppAlex (RB) Rob (CB) Deano (CB) Aaron (LB)
Jordan (RM) Gollum (CM) Micky (CM) Eye-Ball (LM)
pppppppppppNathan (CF) (c) Nick (CF)
Subs: Jimmy, Sharpy
Watchers: Parker, Tyrone
Do not adjust your monitors; the Oaks really did return to winning ways and with our first choice left winger playing in goal. With both Ty and Parker on official watching duties, it was a welcome surprise to discover that Scott used to play regularly in goal, and he showed no signs of rust as he put in a solid performance and kept a clean sheet to boot.
Games between the Oaks and Linford Wanderers tend to be close, with 3 of the last 4 being decided by a single goal. This just goes to show what a vast improvement this performance from the Oaks was, as Linford were made to look a far inferior side.
The game got off to a slow start, with neither team really taking control. However, the Oaks soon got into their stride and looked to play the ball to feet, and the determination to experience a win again after 3 straight defeats was evident from the movement and noise from those in blue and black (away strip).
The first chance to score, for the second week running, feel to Eye-Ball, who was relishing the chance to bomb forward from his position on the left wing. As Nick broke down the right, Eye-Ball raced through the middle into the penalty area. Nick then put in a superb cross at waist height which Eye-Ball threw a left foot at, but he couldn’t direct the ball on target.
Having almost set up the first goal, Nick then had a great chance to give the Oaks the lead himself. When the ball broke to him following a throw in, his first time effort hit the post, and rebounded behind off the goal keepers face.
The Oaks had looked very solid at the back, with none of the problems of the previous weeks being evident. Even when Linford did eventually break through Deano was on hand to snuff out the danger with a fine sliding tackle.
With Gollum doing the donkey work in front of the back four, Mikey was given licence to link up with the wingers and front men, and was at the heart of most of the good things created going forward. One such move saw Mikey linking up with Eye-Ball down the left, with a series of close passes along with good movement and even a cheeky back heel from Eye-Ball leading to the Oaks winning a corner. Nathan swung in the corner, and Ty would have been overjoyed to have seen Alex gambling at the back post to steer the ball home from close range: 0-1.
The Oaks maintained their one goal advantage going into half time, despite a wobbly last 10 minutes when we repeatedly gave up possession and let Linford Wanderers have too much time and space on the ball.
The half time team talk was mainly positive, with Milesy re-iterating the importance of getting a second goal to kill off Linford’s challenge.
The second half performance was one of the best from an Oaks side in some time, as we totally dominated the opposition. Eye-Ball’s pre-match banana (and instructions to stay wide when we had possession) seemed to be paying dividends as he ran the Linford fullback ragged. Although I have been told not to be modest about my performance, it is worth pointing out that the Linford fullback was one of the worst we have seen, so just imagine what would have happened if we had a proper winger out on the left. However, the confident and positive approach adopted by Eye-Ball seemed to spread throughout the team, and whereas some weeks we are accused of being too quiet and watchful, the ball was being demanded from all areas.
With the front two being well marshalled by the Linford centre backs, Eye-Ball was the unlikely best attacking option, and he repaid Nick’s favour from the first half by putting the big man through only for the keeper to make a good save with his legs.
With the score at 1-0, Linford were still hopeful of getting back into the game. But these hopes were shattered when, out of nothing, Eye-Ball won possession in midfield and headed towards the penalty area. He held off the opposition challenge before responding to Nathan’s cries with a defence splitting pass to which Nathan supplied his trademark finish into the far corner from the right: 0-2.
This goal seemed to knock the stuffing out of Linford, whilst giving the Oaks renewed energy, and Sharpy – who came on for a run out with twenty minutes remaining – claimed the assist as a scramble in the area saw the ball finally poked home by Mikey with the aid of a deflection. Some tried to claim this should go down as an own goal, but as the original effort was on target the dubious goals committee awarded Mikey his second goal of the season: 0-3.
The emphasis now was on keeping a clean sheet, not only because we hadn’t managed this all season but also because we didn’t want to give Linford any reason to believe they were anything but dead and buried. Defensively we had looked at total ease, with some even comparing Rob to a hippo. Not, I hasten to add, that these comparisons were connected to size or a craving for small plastic balls, but rather that the muddier it is the better he seems to perform. With Deano, Alex and Aaron also putting in assured performances Linford were unable to create much. When they did get a shot on goal Scott was more than equal to it, as he dived to his left to palm one fierce drive around the post and tipped a speculative effort from 35 yards onto the bar. Deano then reacted quickest to clear the danger.
Now there aren’t many similarities between Sharpy and Peter Crouch (he doesn’t have his height or good looks for a start), but just like Crouchy does with England, Sharpy always seems to pop up with a goal for the Oaks. This game was no exception when, rather than attempt to play the ball in himself, Eye-ball played the ball down the line to Nathan who, in acres of space, planted the ball right onto Sharpy’s head to leave him the simple task of beating the stranded keeper: 0-4.
Despite some late unsavouries thanks to the stupidity of Linford’s regular hot-head (which isn’t an affliction suffered by any of the Oaks players of course), this was a really enjoyable game for the Oaks, not to mention a great result. We have a week off next week as Deano leads a band of merry men to Newcastle to celebrate his 30th (sorry 21st) birthday.
I’d suggest they avoid the Pig and Whistle, but then you can almost guarantee they will end up there:
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/12/1252/Pig_and_Whistle/Newcastle
See you all in two weeks.
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 28th November Away @ Lakeside v AFC Staggs
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