Lane Cove West 2, Gordon 4.

20 May 2006, Blackman

 

4-2 is, of course, the most significant score ever in English football: England 4 West Germany 2, ten World Cup Finals back. And what a day that was, as we have been reminiscing in recent weeks.

 

Today’s efforts were, on the other hand, forgettable. If we’re lucky.

 

Just as 3 weeks ago, we conceded 3 first-half goals in 10 minutes to be 3-0 down. Again, the opposition were eminently beatable: this time, we know that very clearly as they had lost all 6 previous games this season. Again, we came back in the second half, but in the end lost by two goals.

 

This was the first time this season we didn’t need the sun cream. There had even been a bit of rain to dampen down the dust. But Blackman isn’t about to turn into Wembley any time soon: too many undulations and bare patches. Actually: possibly like Wembley is now - a building site.

 

The game saw the welcome return from injury of both Bill & Tim. Tony was away so we had the familiarity of a Dave in goal. But this time it was Dave C (who is now the only one of us to have played in every game).

 

And to start with, it looked like he would have little to do. True, we looked rusty and gave the ball away too much, but we built a few good attacks and a goal would surely settle us back to last week’s form.

 

Soon the chances came: notably Matt one-on-one with the keeper, but the ball went wide. Shortly after Matt was felled, but no free kick resulted. Then Matt again had a good header but nothing came of it.

 

But, worryingly, our slow, flat start to the game became a slow, flat middle: not much calling, some poor choices of pass, and our opponents sniffed a different outcome.

 

I was on the sideline (taking my turn to have a week off, as our squad continues its remarkable run of present-ism). So I was able to able to note on the clipboard the sorry tale that then unfolded. The notes say:

 

“27 minutes: 0-1 lob

31 minutes: 0-2 deflect

37 minutes 0-3 defensive header down”

 

Had there been just one or two goals, I would probably now be able to remember the facts behind these cryptic words. But my brain is obviously already trying to consign the game into the dark recess marked “Things Not To Be Remembered”. The traces that are still left are the awful inevitability of each of the goals, in a sort of dreamy slow motion. Not that any of them were Dave’s fault; or anyone’s fault, really. Or if they were, I’m not going to be able to tell you about it.

 

In between 31 & 37 minutes the notes also have, “Ball across face Bill”. I think this is a reference to a good chance we had to get back to 1-2. But Bill was too selfless & passed the ball across to Matt, rather than slotting it in. I think.

 

But at 0-3 it was all very flat. Even the opposition didn’t seem as excited as you’d expect. Lost every game? But now 3 up? Whoopee?! Not a bit!

 

So – one more time – we faced the second half mountain. And we did begin to look more dangerous. Bob had a good heading chance from Matt’s cross, and another from Brian’s corner.

 

But then proceedings were interrupted by a nasty injury to Bill who went down after a heavy tackle. With one leg not responding to orders from head office, he was helped off and into a couple of chairs. But I half-expected to find him soon at my shoulder, keen to get back on again. So it was a shock to be told that he was in a bad way, and we should call an ambulance; which duly came and carted him away. (This, and Warwick’s presence as a spectator, reminded us of about 20 years ago when we used to play in front of North Shore Hospital, and Warwick went there for a Saturday game, but got home on the Tuesday, having had an unscheduled lie down in the meantime. And they told him that he was a bit old to be playing football then!) 

 

It took us till the game’s three-quarter mark to get on the scoreboard, and even then we needed some good fortune. Matt was definitely hacked down, and the penalty area was definitely where he landed. But where the crime was committed was less clear. But, penalty, said Ivan the ref, and who were we to disagree? Matt blasted it home, and it was 1-3.

 

More pressure and corners from us followed: in the second half our opponents hardly had an attack.

 

And it took only another 6 minutes to get back to within a goal. A clever lobbed pass from Peter found Mark S free on the right, and he calmly controlled the ball and smashed it in: 2-3.

 

But still, we lacked the zing that the situation called for. True, we had a few more good efforts, but it all seemed to lack conviction.

 

So it was not really surprising when – just as in that more memorable game 40 years ago, the decisive goal of the game was scored in its last minute by the side 3-2 up. “They think it’s all over. It is now!”

 

Mark S was man of the match for the good goal and constant effort. Matt and Bob were 2nd and 3rd.

 

Some different thanks this week: to Bob & Ernie for getting Bill’s car home; to Nigel for the BBQ & Martin for the food buying; to Tim for the beers, as ever; to Ivan & Peter N for officiating us & John S & Mark S at 3pm. And to Ernie for kindly telling me after the game that if I’d taken his advice and given Bill a rest at half-time, he wouldn’t be in hospital now, AND we’d have won the game. Thanks, Ernie!

 

MARK BRYANT