Two Out Of Three Ain’t Bad Sunday 28^th October 2007

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Andy had to go up to Liverpool and then Glasgow over the weekend, so Mark took charge of the team. Joby wasn’t available which meant a reshuffle. How would we do? Steve Batt kindly took on Dictaphone duties.

The line up was:

Joel

Tom

Jack Callum Spike

Josh Sam Aaron Max

Chilly Dan

Subs: Joe & Charlie

Due to problems working out how the Dictaphone worked, the reporting started a little late. By then we were already losing, with Brislington all over us and dominating, and with our team giving the ball away every time we got it. The ball was played through for the fast Brislington player to latch onto and he gave Joel no chance 0-1. Spike won the ball in defence and played it forward to Josh who found Sam, but he was closed down by two players. They rushed forward and forced a corner. Jack tried to head clear, then Callum kicked it virtually off of the goal-line before Spike was pressurised into conceding another corner. Luckily, this one was kicked behind for a goal kick. Jack was injured very early in the game and had also been ill the night before, which forced Mark into another change as Jack was unable to take any more part in the game. We forced three corners in a row and finally got into their half! A big throw from Tom forced them to concede a corner, but it was hit hard and no one managed to get a touch. They broke quickly, and it was Spike with a last ditch tackle which regained possession. They broke again, passing the ball from one side to the other, making us run in circles and gave Joel no chance with another shot 0-2. Aaron was unlucky to lose the ball, the bounce taking it away from him and they broke again, each time looking like they might score. The wind was taking its toll at this point, interfering with the Dictaphone so that a lot of what was said was lost! A goal kick was won by them, but Josh was in quick, forcing a throw in our favour. The ball was played to Sam, but instantly three players were on him and they attacked in numbers 0-3. Brislington looked dangerous every time they attacked and another goal-line scramble was eventually shot over. It seemed at this stage that every time we took a goal kick, they would win it back and have a shot. On a rare occasion we did get past the centre circle, but the ball was lost pretty quickly. We did look to break when Tom won the ball and flicked it forward, however Sam was just offside. Joe showed some skill to beat a defender and win a corner which Tom took. It was headed out and Josh headed it straight back, however it was forcefully cleared. We finally had a shot through Joe, but it was at the ‘keeper. Max played Sam into their box and he laid it inside for Josh, but their defender just got there first.

HALF-TIME : FRYS 0 BRISLINGTON 3

Mark made some changes at half time and went 3-4-3 in an attempt to get back into the game. Also, the wind was with us in this half! Charlie switched play well for Joe, but he was closed down quickly and again the ball was lost. From one kick out Tom won it and had a shot which went wide, then Sam got to the next one, but with the same end result. Max then won the ball, hit it, it hit their ‘keeper and came off of him and onto the post. Max went left and played the ball to Sam and he forced a throw near their line. Then Aaron won the ball and was tackled for a corner which Tom went over to take. Aaron went for it and got a hand in the face from which we were awarded an indirect free kick in the area! Unfortunately, with nothing really rehearsed, the attempted lacked ideas and was cleared. They broke away and their quick attacker shot well wide when just one on one. Chilly then had a chance but it rolled just wide. Joe took a throw to Aaron who lost it, but then won it back and crossed it in to Josh who finally got us into the game 1-3. We won a corner which flew in. Josh headed it on, Max headed it back into the area and Joe tried an overhead kick, but it was well over. Aaron forced his way into the area and was brought down. Aaron stood up to take the kick and drove it through the ‘keeper’s legs 2-3. A ball into the area was flicked on and hit the crossbar. It came back to Josh who flicked it high and over. Into the last few minutes and we seemed to wake up playing some good passing football. Josh to Joe to Chilly to Charlie to Max, who shot wide. Right at the end and Charlie was pushed over. The ref raised his whistle, then changed his mind!

FULL-TIME : FRYS 2 BRISLINGTON 3

Man of the Match – Chosen by Mark for excellent play and effort – Josh

Afterthoughts…………………………………………………

Steve’s view was that we were appalling in the first half, and only started to play really well in the last ten minutes. This was the consensus of a few others that I spoke to, although it seemed to me that a lot hinged on the weather and in particular the wind. We were missing players, so hopefully we will give a better account of ourselves in the return fixture.