Yet another game where we played well in the first half, should have got ahead, but ended up losing by one goal. This time, though, we added to the mix a couple of goals that we really didn’t need to give away, and we went home empty-handed again.
More changes to the squad: out were Charlie (sick), Mark S & Dave C (injured). But Steve & Martin C, were back from injury, and Dave L was back from the As, who also lent us Dave P & Brian (again) for the day.
We started well again, enjoying the extra space of Comenara. We looked dangerous, particularly when man-of-the-match Dave B had the ball. Our best chance in the early stages was a shot of his that ricocheted off a defender and onto a post.
But pushing up too far was our downfall. A counter-attack found a couple of defenders too far up, and always scrambling to take the half-chances of clearance as the ball was swept up their left wing. The ball came across, and there was an attacker all alone to side-foot in. 0-1 for the 8th time in 10 games; and 0-1 at half-time for the 4th week in a row.
In the meantime, though, Matt (2nd in the MOTM) saw a great header from Ernie’s cross go just over the bar.
And, as last week, our fortunes seemed to be on the up not too after half-time. A period of good pressure led to a fierce long-range shot from Dave L. The keeper could only push it out and there was Dave P to head it back over him and into the net: 1-1, and going well.
The turning point was probably our failure to go 2-1 up when we had a golden chance. Peter beat a couple of defenders on the right, spotted that I was alone on the far side of the goal and flighted a lovely cross over the defence. And I headed it firmly, and on target, and there was every reason why it ought to have gone in. Except for the vital fact that it didn’t: the keeper got a hand to it, I was impeded in trying to get to the rebound, but the ref saw nothing, and the chance had gone.
And then alas, alack: a stuff-up. A cross of theirs in from the right. No real danger. Dave W had it covered. So did Martin P. One or other of them alone would have snuffed out the danger without breaking sweat. But Dave W called; Martin went for the ball, but - half-realising that he shouldn’t - only half connected with it, and it went on to a forward who gleefully stuck it in: 1-2.
There was quite a while left, but our opponents ran down the clock successfully: we never really got close again; and couldn’t get back into our rhythm of the first half. Dave B got injured, and disappointment flavoured the post-match beer.
All the more so, as Tony has announced his regretful retirement, having exhausted the ability of surgery to mend the wounded knee. 1986 it was when Tony first played for us: only Steve, Ernie, Charlie & I go back further. So this is the 20th year, and the last one. We will miss the crunching tackles, the occasional foray upfield, and the softly-spoken humour. Suggestions, please for a proper farewell.
And it was typical of Tony that he turned up today to be linesman for the As, even though he wasn’t playing. Thanks also to Lucio for being linesman for our game, and to Dave P & Brian to agreeing to play for us. (Sorry, Brian, that you lost your unbeaten record with the Bs!)
MARK BRYANT