HOLMAN INSPIRES US TO GREAT COME BACK

On Saturday we travelled to Whitton Utd to take on the current league leaders. Sam Mansfield was unavailable due to losing an argument with a car, he’s not the sharpest, bless him. Alex Ball took over in goal and Jake Holman came in for Blake in the only other change.

We started the game poorly and with a very generous Referee decision, Whitton took the lead when Sambo was harshly adjudged to have handled in the box after 5 minutes. The penalty was converted to make it 1-0. We didn’t get going for the first 15 minutes but held firm and gradually grew in to the game when we started getting Philbo and Ricky in to the game.

After 25 minutes, Ricky delivered a great ball in to their box which their defender coolly finished with a great diving header to make it 1-1. We were playing better and growing in to the game but we defended poorly and in less than 5 minutes we were 2-1 behind. We were still causing a few problems, with Rymer having a couple of efforts, but in truth hadn’t really played to our full potential.

Whitton then made it 3-1, with less than a minute to go till half time, which slightly flattered them despite us not being at our best. We knew we could do better and needed to give a lot more and get the ball down and generally work harder.

In the first 10 minutes of the half, little happened, but Whitton still were having the edge. We changed the formation and the boys started to show more, with Whitton looking to play long and hit us on the break. The change in shape nearly had an instant reward with Clarky bending one against the post. Shortly after, a great turn and shot from Rymer thudded the underside of the bar. A minute after, Rymer did find the back of the net, but the linesman judged him offside, which looked very tight.

We were playing so much better with Philbo and Ricky seeing loads of the ball and Holman and Wallis starting to take control of midfield; we were heavily in the ascendancy. After 75 minutes and continued pressure on the Whitton goal, we were finally rewarded when Sambo produced a great bit of skill to beat his player on the edge of the box, before holding off the defender to fire home and make it 3-2.

A few minutes later, we made two changes with Beardo and Blake coming on; another change in shape found a deserved equaliser. With 85 minutes on the clock, we made it 3-3 when Philbo had a maze up and found Sambo, who again finished well to make it 3-3. Neither team created another chance and the game finished
3-3.

A great performance by the boys 2nd half showing great character. A few of the lads need a mention this week; none more so than Sam Mansfield who has a busy week as he has to attended a ‘green cross code course’, normally only attended by the under 5’s. Also, Beardo for spending all the half time interval trimming his tramp like beard , Jake Gould for wearing the team “dunce” tracksuit this week for the worst ever warm down and no one making any comment about it cause it suited him so well. Finally, the skipper Warren for turning up late again with another terrible excuse and then drying himself after the game with a Jack Sparrow towel..Argh

Starting X1... 1.A Ball 2.W Joseph 3.J Gould(B Panrucker 80mins) 4.D Wallis 5.K Hughes 6.J Holman 7.J Clark(R Meadows 80mins) 8.S Holman 9.T Rymer 10.R Griggs 11.P.Kelly

Subs 12.R Salter 14.B Panrucker 15.L Morley 16.R Meadows 17.S Mansfield