Sadds is Back

D'OH 3 Van Basten 1

Great to have Sadds back to add zip to our attacks - when he has the ball there is an urgency about him and it was no surprise that he kicked off the scoring. The Skipper intercepted a pass out of their defence and sent Sadds on his way scampering towards goal and sliding the ball past the keeper for the opening score. He was back! Strangely that was the only score of the first half in a game which was full of grunt and puff and a little less finesse.

Both sides played a fairly open style so there was plenty of end to end action and both keepers did a fair amount of work. Our Euge demonstrated just how good a shot-stopper he is as time and again he positioned himself perfectly and beat off any shot that dared to threaten his goal.

In the second half we piled on the pressure and Sadds set up Lobby for a first time shot that went sizzling over the crossbar. Then another defensive lapse allowed the skipper to close in on goal and his toe-poke found its mark. Lobby's industry down the right flank resulted in a cross that Trev converted and we had three to their none and were feeling comfortable. Of course that wasn't the end of it and some loose marking close to goal let them in for their only score and spoiled Euge's night because there was not much he could do after his defence (more specifically, the skipper) had let him down. Never mind, another win and that makes 5 wins and a draw from the last 7 outings. Our fine run is not enough to ensure us of a finals berth even if we beat top of the table Los Lobos next week at 8.40pm. Losing Euge to a work meeting will not help our cause as we assume he plays every week and rarely have to cover for him.

D’OH! 3 Captain Jack 3

Same scoreline as the previous encounter as we came from behind to snatch a draw with one of the final plays of the game. Steve Moran has joined us after the disbanding of Royston Vasey and it was his block of the keeper’s clearance that deflected the ball to Kevin who did the necessary and brought us level with not long left.

We never led but we should have. The first goal of the game came after a tense opening of more than fourteen minutes, but it should have come sooner. They scored first but we should have. The lads worked a neat move down the left and Plaino avoided the attention of the last defender and got the ball across goal where the skipper was unmarked. A gaping goal and a scrambling, beaten keeper should have led to one conclusion. Defying the odds your skipper managed to slam the ball against the post and out in surely one of the worst misses of all time.

Anyway, the show goes on and of course next thing they score and everyone knows it should have been the equaliser. Turning at half time without a goal but not without a chance as the frenetic pace might take its toll on them as well and they have no subs. Relief at last as Kev skips down the left and slips it past the keeper to score from an acute angle a very nice goal indeed and we are on the board. Then a free kick in the middle of the park gives the skipper a chance to make amends somewhat and his shot fizzes into the top corner and we are level again. They stretch us again at the back before finding a way past Euge despite his best efforts and the struggle is on again. Valiant defending by the lads with Lobby to the fore means we keep them out and then thankfully Kev pops the equaliser in and we come away with something.

The season end is fast approaching and we need something big to happen for us to get in the four. With just three rounds left, we have to play the leaders in the final round and Van Basten the week after next. With Royston Vasey out, not sure who we play next week, but I assume the kick off time of 10pm is unchanged.