With a goal keeper with a fractured thumb, a winger with a broken wrist, a central midfielder with ongoing ankle problems and another midfielder with a hernia you may think Clements would have to throw in the towel. However, we are made of sterner stuff and by putting Dale in goal and Conor on the right to form some sort of NHS tag team with Ryan, we were able to get eleven men on the pitch. Bunny was willing to battle on through the pain, and Foggy was even prepared to take the linesman's flag despite hardly being able to move (which to be honest hasn't seemed important to a lot of the linesman you see in the Sunday League). Oh, and our skipper was missing which left a gaping hole in the centre of defence. However, Alan was on hand to slot in without complains to play in at least his fifth different position this season.
It quickly became clear that Liam and H were capable of causing Pirates' centre back pairing problems, and the best early chance fell to Liam who swivelled and hit a low shot into the corner with his left foot. Unfortunately, with the chance falling on his weaker side, the effort lacked power and the keeper was able to get down and turn the ball round the post.
Pirates took the league rather fortuitously as Dale was understandably caught cold when a low shot was fired in that seemed to be well within his reach. However, his attempt at stopping the ball was reminiscent of the lazy boundary fielder who, rather than deploying the long barrier, simply pushes the ball over the ropes (in this case into the corner of the net): 0-1.
Clements responded through Tapsell, who decided to try a different approach having been well below his usual goal scoring standards this season (what has happened to the trademark back post header?). The ball was played to H on the edge of the area, and with his back to goal he laid it off to Tapsell. Before any complaints could be made about the lay-off being onto Tapsell's weaker side, the ball was curling from his left foot, over the keeper and into the net: 1-1.
Dale has been the top assister this season, and a small inconvenience like being in goal wasn't going to stop him adding to his tally. The bounce from his long ball was read better by H than the defender, and our man raced clear. 5 goals in two weeks has seen some of the old swagger return, and with the keeper off his line (again), H calmly chipped the ball over his head and into the net: 2-1.
Despite Pirates' greater possession, Clements were working hard to keep them out of the penalty area. Unfortunately this didn't help us when the ball sat up nicely on the edge of the area and was smashed into the net: 2-2.
There was still time for Dale to redeem himself with a fine low save that kept us level going into the break.
Bunny was really struggling by this time, and really should have come off at half time. However, we had no one to replace him, and he wasn't going to let us play on with ten men. I'm sure he wont mind me saying that subsequently we played the second half with ten and a half men, and at times it was backs to the wall. However, everyone worked hard to track back and help the defence, and at times Liam was our deepest man!
Pirates pulled two goals clear through another long range effort and a back post header, but Dale stopped the scoreline looking even worse with a fine reaction save from another accurate cross: 2-4.
Clements had some good chances of their own, with one particular chance being created by Ryan and Conor, who combined well down the right with the sort of passing and moving that we would love to see more of. Unfortunately Ryan's lung bursting run ended with him missing the target.
Clements pulled one back to make the last ten minutes a little more interesting when Tapsell spotted Liam's run on the left, and lifted a delightful ball over the defence for our striker to chase. Liam deserved a goal for his hard work throughout the game, and held off the defender before lifting the ball over the keeper and into the net: 3-4.
We were running on empty by now and were not able to find an equaliser, but as the final whistle blew we could at least be pleased with the part we had played in an entertaining and competitive match.
When the season started back in September we were not really too sure what to expect, with a new manager and a lot of new players. Despite the ups and downs I think we should be pleased with both our league position and the way we have come through the season, especially when you see the number of teams who have struggled to put out sides or have folded all together. A big thank you should go to Alec, as without his commitment and hard work I do not think we would have made it through the season. Taking over from a manager who has been doing the job for so long was never going to be easy (ask David Moyes), and when you add to this fluctuating squad numbers, incorporation of new players, being left in the lurch by your co-manager, and the poor communication skills and ridiculous monetary demands of the league we should be very grateful that Alec stuck with us all the way through the season. He has decided not to carry on next season, so once again we are looking for someone else to take on the role. On the plus side it seems like the core of the squad want to stay together, which means whoever does take over will have a strong, young and ever improving team that can be very competitive in this tough division.
I know we will try and arrange a post/pre-season drink up, but in the mean time I hope everyone has a great summer whether that involves playing cricket, soaking up the sun or exercising your drinking arm.
Eye-Ball
Goal scoring chart
Congratulations to Dale to winning the golden boot for the second season in a row, but he was pushed close by Liam, who finished one goal behind.
