This might not have been the result we wanted, but given our
recent run a point is a step in the right direction! We won’t be sorry to see the back of Mustang,
and cup ties and the usual farce of league re-arrangements aside, we shouldn’t
need to play them for at least one more season.
Sharpy was able to keep his jeans on this week, as he had 15
other players to choose from including the welcome return of Webby. He mixed it up a bit, resting Robin and Jake
whilst Liam was restored to his favourite position up front alongside Dale.
Subs: Chris, Robin, Jake, lil ‘Ryan
On a perfect Sunny Winter morning, Clements started brightly
in attack, and Mustang’s scruffy defending gave us early hope that we could get
our own back following the shocking result in the reverse fixture. Unfortunately we weren’t as bright at the
back, and got caught napping as a long ball over the top saw the striker race
clear. Webby came out well to make the
initial save, and Rob blocked from the first rebound. Unfortunately the ball just kept falling to
Mustang players, and eventually it was fired into the roof of the empty net:
0-1.
It was pleasing to see that we didn’t panic despite going
behind early again, and we were soon back on level terms. We all know that Webby has a booming right
foot, but his groin injury meant that he needed to avoid kicking from hand or
on the ground wherever possible. His
first test of the groin produced a visible grimace (and a telling off from
Alex), but it was worth the pain as his clearance beat the Mustang defence and
Dale smashed the ball high on the bounce into the top of the net, handing Webby
his second assist of the season: 1-1.
Not soon after it was necessary for Robin to replace Rob,
who was the victim of a disgraceful assault by Mustang’s cretin of a
striker. The pair had just had a strong
exchange of words following a tussle for the ball, and then when Rob played the
ball out to Eye-Ball on the left, the two footed tackle from behind was so late
that the argument that he went for the ball was frankly laughable. To make matters worse the weak referee (who
was a very unfortunate assignment for this fixture) felt a yellow card was
sufficient punishment – I’d love to see how he manages to justify that one in
his write up. No one (including the
opposition manager who couldn’t apologise enough) agreed with his
evaluation. I just hope that no lasting
damage has been done, and I’m grateful that we don’t have any cowards like that
in our team who would hide behind the excuse that they are just “playing the
game” when purposefully going out to cripple an opponent.
This incident didn’t stop Mustang making up for their lack
of ability by throwing themselves recklessly into tackles, and we received no
protection at all. To make matters worse
we went behind again following a long ball over the top. This time Eye-Ball got across to make the
tackle on the edge of the area, but the ball fell kindly again for a Mustang
player who found time and space to slot home:
1-2.
Dale’s three game scoring drought had already been ended
with the first goal of this game, and it seemed this had reset his radar, as he
collected the ball from Harry in a crowded area before moving the ball onto his
right and firing with the outside of his boot into the far corner – a sublime
finish that was even better than the first: 2-2.
With Foggy getting stuck into the challenges, Harry was
starting find space to control the game, and he could have had a second assist
if the player whose run he picked out down the left wasn’t Eye-Ball. Still, side netting has to be considered a
pretty good outcome given our left back’s goal to game ratio, but it was never
going to give us the lead.
The second half brought no goals, but plenty of chances for
Clements. Mustang’s were rarer and
included an early shout for a penalty when Eye-Ball brought down the striker on
his route the goal. A penalty (and
possibly a red card) would have been the decision according to the letter of
the law, however the corner the referee awarded seemed the more just result
given that the striker shouldn’t have even been on the pitch, and the fact that
two strong shouts for penalties following fouls on Luke and Dale had been
similarly waved away in the first half.
The only other chance of note for our opposition produced a fine save
from Webby at his near post.
Clements’s best chances included a thunderous pile driver
from Foggy from 30 yards. He hit it so
sweetly that it seemed to be goal-bound from the moment it left his foot, but
unfortunately the underside of the crossbar (which I’m surprised stayed
attached to the posts) came to the rescue for our opposition. Dale also attempted to reshape the woodwork
when, in search of his hat-trick, he shot across the keeper and hit the far
post from a tight angle. Jake had
another good effort of note, but his controlled up-and-down effort came down a
little too quickly to trouble the keeper.
Mustang retreated further and further into their own half,
and we found it increasingly difficult to find any space in behind them. Even Ryan’s quick feet couldn’t create space,
as every time he turned there was another man in his way. In the end we had to settle for the draw,
which didn’t quite feel like a defeat considering we had never led in this
game, but nonetheless we knew we should be beating sides like Mustang
comfortably.
After weeks of being Clement’s top scorer and assist
provider Dale finally earned a unanimous vote for MoTM. If it hadn’t been for his excellent finishing
we probably would have lost this match, and it’s just a shame he didn’t get the
hat-trick his performance deserved. As
opposition players can’t win the DoTD award, it was handed to Jake who followed
up his customary “reducer” with some unnecessary afters which saw him formally
acquainted with the referee within 5 minutes of being on the pitch.
After a tough January (which included two 120 minute games),
we have a week off to recharge the batteries and reflect on what we need to do
individually and collectively to gain that elusive first victory of 2015.
Eye-Ball
Next game: Sunday 22nd February @ Home v
Greyhound
Goal scoring chart
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