Half 1: Thames Gateway 5 – 0 Aveley Academicals
Shambolic just about sums it up, and I don’t think anyone who was involved would disagree with that assessment. There can’t be any excuses, as the side that the Gaffa put out should have been strong enough to compete with any team in the Thurrock Sunday League – and has done on many occasions.
Subs: Eye-Ball, Terry
The Accies simply crumbled under the pressure exerted on them by a young, energetic side who wanted it more and could actually string a few passes together. It’s hard to talk about our defending, because we didn’t really do any, as we either allowed the opposition a direct route to goal, or let them deliver and put away crosses and corners if not on the first attempt then on the second or third. Clearances were either sliced back towards our own goal or hit against other men in blue. In fact, our attempts to control the ball looked more like a clearance, and hardly a single pass went to its intended recipient – and that’s making a pretty wild assumption that the player passing it knew who he was trying to pass it to.
All this culminated in us being two nil down inside five minutes, four down in ten and five down within 20. Personally, I felt physically sick watching on helplessly from the side line; I can’t think of many more painful experiences I’ve had to endure but I imagine those who have a friend who is a boxer experiences a similar feeling if they have to witness them getting beaten into a bloody pulp. There was no blood spilt on this occasion, but the outcome was pretty much the same.
Having said all that, we did improve in the last 20 minutes of the half (or the opposition took their feet of the gas) and fashioned a few chances. The best including a free kick from Lee which dropped just wide, a well struck volley from H which the keeper somehow spotted through a crowd of bodies and tipped over the bar, and a rasping drive from Bobby which unfortunately was straight at the keeper.
Half 2: Thames Gateway 1 – 1 Aveley Academicals
Desperate times call for desperate measures, and with the general consensus being that without making changes the game was as good as lost anyway, the Gaffa changed to a more attacking formation for the second half. Blakey dropped into defence to form a three with Luke and Robin, and Terry came on for James to partner H up top – which was where Harry had been playing since his hamstring all but gave up the ghost five minutes into the game.
Whether it was the change in formation, or the realisation that we had nothing to lose, I cannot be sure, but the second half was infinitely better than the first. The Accies started making and finding space on the ball, we looked more composed at the back, and passes started going to feet rather than away from them. We even took the lead when a ball forward from Luke fell to H, who swivelled just outside the box and lift the ball into the far corner: 0-1.
Harry obviously thought he could score from anywhere now, but was soon brought back down to Earth as a similar effort had the wrong proportion of shin, and slid down his leg before flicking off his boot and well wide.
Such was the improvement in the second half that we definitely deserved to win it – and at least salvage some pride – but an awful decision from the referee saw him award a penalty (which was converted) for a foul by Blakey which was blatantly outside the box. This was despite the huge crater that Blakely had left being inspected by the man in black, who was obviously still bitter about failing the forensic science entry exam: 1-1.
The lads kept battling to the end, but despite some late efforts from Liam as he looked to capitalise on the introduction of a substitute keeper (who wasn’t one), we just couldn’t rectify the damage done in the opening 10 minutes. Still, the second half performance was enough to ease the pain induced by the first and we can at least go into the next game with our confidence somewhat replenished.
MoTM went to Harry, who battled on through injury, made a nuisance of himself upfront and deservedly got a goal for his efforts. There was also a number of votes for Blakey, whose move to centre did a lot to restore some law and order to the defence (and there was a superbly timed tackle as well). DoTD went to Lee, for squaring up to an opposition playing and telling him he was going to “end his life.” A bit harsh that Lee, especially as his mum was probably watching.
So we know every week is going to be a battle now, as we move into the latter stages of the season, and injuries and availability really cause the squad to creak at the seams. We’re going to need to show some resilience and grit, and I’m sure we’ll grind out some good results if we do.
Eye-Ball
Goal scoring chart
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