Oaks Athletic 3 - 3 SSC Orsett

The Oaks were left a little deflated at the final whistle, having led this match 3-1 going into the second half. Although both teams come away from a draw with the same reward, it tends to feel more like a victory for one side and a loss for the other. Orsett would have felt pretty good about themselves, but it's important that we also look at the many positives to be taken from this display: this was only our second game in this league, and we've shown again that we can more than hold our own at this level - and without a recognised keeper. We scored three really good goals, and recovered from the early set back of going a goal behind. Also the post match banter and roast potatoes were still as enjoyable as ever.


No surprise to see the Oaks playing catch up already

With Steptoe only getting back from holiday the day before, Albert was once again given the job of picking the side, and was grateful to Scott for once again taking the gloves in the absence of Ty, whose injury is likely to keep him out for a number of weeks. With Luke and Deano both injured, the strength of the Oaks squad was once again evident as Albert was able to call on specialist full back Browne to start on the right side of defence.


Milesy shows Sharpy his preferred method for picking the side

ppppppppppppppppScott

BrowneppppppRobppppNikippppEye-Ball

Nathan (c)ppppppTapsellpppppMikeyppppppRyan

ppppppppppppHarryppppDale

subs: Bunny, Nick, Al

Orsett started the brightest of the two sides, and were particularly effective without the ball as they stopped the Oaks from finding any sort of rhythm by hassling and cutting out passes on numerous occasions. They deservedly took the lead, although it was a 1 in 100 strike from an individual rather than a goal earned by a dominate side. The ball sat up nicely for the Orsett midfielder some 30 yards from goal, and his sweet strike dipped over Scott, hit the underside of the bar and nestled in the back of the net: 0-1.

The Oaks tend to come to life after going a goal behind, and this game was no exception as passes started to find their range and it became clear that the key to turning this game around was to exploit a shaky defence with balls in behind for our two young whippets to exploit. Corners are an obvious consequence of forcing defences to run towards their own goal, and this was to provide the source for the Oaks equaliser. Ryan's deliveries just seem to get better and better, and from one corner in the first half he whipped a fantastic ball to the back post where Tapsell arrived unchallenged with a header that had too much power for the keeper to keep out: 1-1.

The Oaks continued to press, with Dale especially showing that he had too much pace for the Orsett defence to deal with. This was proved beyond doubt when the ball found its way to Dale on the left and he raced clear of the defence and into the box. He then lifted the ball over the advancing keeper, and we all held our breath as the ball bounced towards the goal, hit the inside of the post, spun along the line and finally came to a halt the right side of the white wash before a covering defender could become a hero. Dale later foolishly admitted that he hadn't even meant to lift the ball over the keeper, but it looked pretty good from where I was standing: 2-1.

It wasn't long before the Oaks added a third, with Orsett not learning from their earlier error as they once again allowed Tapsell to arrive unchallenged at the back post to head home a corner from Ryan, in a carbon copy of the first Oaks' goal: 3-1.

The Oaks were then denied the opportunity to add a fourth when Dale was tripped in the area. His momentum carried him outside the box, and the referee decided to award a free kick from there rather than taking note of where the offence had initially been committed.

The game could have been over by half time if it wasn't for Orsett's keeper, who pulled off a number of saves, including denying Harry who found himself in the penalty area with just the keeper to beat. As well as good saves, the Orsett keeper also performed one of the most bizarre clearances I've ever seen as when the ball was the wrong side of him and the goal, he chose to punch it over the bar rather than the far easier and less risky option of just putting both hands on it! As it was neither the keeper nor the Oaks players could extend the lead further, and we had to be happy with a well deserved two goal advantage at half time.

The second half unfortunately didn't match the excitement or goal mouth action of the first, and instead was dominated by the performance of the young referee, who was the cause of increasing amounts of frustration and anger from both sides due to general poor decision making, a tendency to be looking the wrong way when key incidents occurred, and a lack of confidence that ultimately meant he lost the respect of those he was supposedly in charge of.

The chances started to dry up for the Oaks, and even the introduction during the half of fresh legs in the form of Al (on for Taps) and Nick (replacing H) could not galvanise a side that was still showing signs of early season weariness. In contrast Orsett seemed to have recovered from the shell shock caused by the Oaks' first half onslaught. When a long throw was allowed to bounce in the 6 yard box, Scott showed good reactions to deflect the ball away after it was prodded goal wards. Then Mikey was in the right place at the right time on the near post to divert a powerful header wide for another corner.

Orsett finally pulled a goal back when the right winger found room to run into the box and put in a low cross. The initial effort was blocked, but the ball fell kindly to another player who slotted low past a helpless Scott: 3-2.

The Oaks were hanging on now, but with five minutes to go the resistance gave way when the ball was not adequately cleared, and the Orsett striker was allowed time in the box to squeeze a low shot past Browne, Eye-Ball and Scott and into the bottom corner of the net: 3-3.

Despite some late pressure the gods (and the referee) were not on our side, and we had to settle for a point. On reflection this was probably a fair result overall, but having had a two goal lead we're bound to think those two points were cruelly snatched at the death.

We've made a good start to the season, and with a run of games now we'll surely get stronger and stronger. The one issue that remains is in goal, and I'm sure Scott is hoping more than anyone that a solution can be found by next week.

Eye-Ball

Next game: Sunday 21st October - Away @ Palmers College v Mossops.

Goal scoring chart