This was a result that none of us expected, and although we
may have been a bit overconfident prior to this match against our winless,
bottom of the league opponents, it is hard to be too critical of a performance
where Mustang took three of the four chances we gifted them, and we only
managed to convert two of the dozen or so that we created. In a way this result may do us some good, as
perhaps we were getting a little carried away thanks to our early success, but
we can be in doubt that we can not afford to be below par in any department and
expect to still win games in this league.
With H and Jake missing Sharpy chose to start with Chris in
the middle, whilst Brian came back in for Luke with Alex filling the hole in
the centre of defence which Foggy had occupied the previous week.
Subs: Rob, Johnny
The game couldn’t have got off to a worse start, as we found
ourselves a goal down before anyone on our team had even touched the ball. A hopeful ball over the top was misjudged by
Alex, and the forward gratefully slotted the ball past Webby: 1-0.
We needed an immediate response, and Foggy will be thankful
that his dad wasn’t watching his son putting in a bid for miss of the
season. Instead it was the usually
reliable Ryan –who you would have put your house on scoring – blazing over from
three yards with the empty net at his mercy.
This unfortunate miss, and another effort that rattled the crossbar when
a simple side foot into the corner would have sufficed, earned Ryan the DoTD
award.
To rub salt into the wounds we then found ourselves two
behind, when we didn’t move out from a cleared corner as a unit, and Mustang’s
makeshift striker found himself with time on the edge of the box to lash the
ball inside the near post. Webby did try
to convince the net that the ball had hit the side netting, but it actually
went a good foot inside the post (nice try Webby): 2-0.
We really couldn’t afford to let our heads drop, and we had
already shown that we could get into their box regularly enough to create
chances. As it happened our first goal
came from a free kick about 30 yards out on the left after Foggy had been
tripped. Ryan’s floated cross to the
back post eluded everyone and went in off the underside of the crossbar: 2-1.
The scores were then level when Dale slipped the ball
through the Liam, who may have been offside but did what all good strikers do
by finishing first and worrying about the flag afterwards. The flag did come once the ball was in the
net, but the referee overruled and the goal was allowed to stand: 2-2.
We should have now been scoring a flurry of goals to stop
any thoughts Mustang may have had about taking all three points. Instead we found ourselves behind going into
half time when Mustang’s striker was given space in the box from a corner to
attempt an audacious overhead kick which surprised us all, including Webby who
had little chance of stopping the effort: 3-2.
It was obvious what we had to do in the second half, and we
spent the best part of 45 minutes camped in the opposition half. However, we would have had a better chance of
finding the Holy Grail than finding the back of the net. Chance after chance flew wide or was blocked
by the numerous bodies that crowded the area.
Even the defenders were getting in on the act with Brian hitting the
post from a corner, and Eye-Ball having an effort that flew over. It was probably these attempts to assist in
attack whilst holding up the defence as we committed more men forward that earned
Eye-Ball the MoTM award.
There was a risk that the score line would become even more embarrassing
when a Mustang player found himself clear through as we chased the
equaliser. However, for the first time
one of their touches didn’t turn to gold, and Webby was able to comfortably
collect the ball from an ill-advised attempt to lob him.
So a week to forget (shame we have to have this report as a
reminder), but it would be wrong not to offer our opposition a bit of
praise. They got stuck in, played with
heart and character, took their chances and therefore deserved a bit of luck. Others
may find it amusing to see this result, but that just puts more emphasis on us
to prove it was a blip, and that we are still a team who can beat anyone in
this league.
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 16th November @ Home v FC
Deportivo Thurrock
Goal scoring chart
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