This was definitely one of our better days. Against a team with a 100% record we came back from a goal down, overcame some very dodgy refereeing and more than earned our point.
Another hot & sunny day. Four subs, which were a full-time job just to manage, but by the end everyone had contributed significantly (and no-one looked exactly daisy like!).
We started well. Peter had a jinking run past several defenders but just failed at the last hurdle. Then Mark S cleverly set up James but the shot went wide. At the other end, Tony was called on for a good save.
And our opponents were always dangerous and speedy. After 20 minutes Howard did his very best to disguise a gentle nudge on a forward who was going past him in the area. Actually the nudge was too gentle and on the attacker went. Some refs would have played advantage, but this one blew up. Tony very nearly stopped the penalty that was well struck to his right. But not quite and it was 0-1.
Almost immediately, we almost replied with a shot from Bob that was just over. Then we hit the post, and right on half-time another good shot from Peter produced an equally proficient save from their keeper. By now, Brian had moved to sweeper, a change prompted by Ernie’s long musings in hospital in recent weeks. (Good to see you back, Ernie). And a good change it proved too, contributing to us having the better of the second half.
But the refereeing was increasingly a worry. Time after time dubious decisions went against us, and it threatened to spoil what was otherwise a game played in good spirit. John got booked for arguing, but the worst horror of the refereeing was still ahead.
But meantime Mark S went close with a flying header, and James with a flying shot. Then James snapped at a shot when the goal gaped, and the ball went wide. And Peter shot just wide. There were some scares at the other end but we were definitely on the up. As was reinforced on the hour: a defender on the goalline could only handle to stop Mark S’s shot. Even this ref had to give the penalty, but needed a conference of captains to be convinced that deliberate handball on the goalline is a sending-off offence. Whilst all this was unfolding, we were trying to remember the penalty routine. It turned out to involve John putting the ball on the spot, leading onlookers to assume that he was the choice kicker; but no, then appeared Peter who was, as far as any of us could recall, the designated penalty taker when we last had one sometime in the late 1990s. And reminded us why: a cool and firm shot to the bottom left and it was 1-1. But the 10 men were not going to lie down. Soon after it was their turn to hit the post, before we resumed the pressure. Dave C’s glancing header from a corner was just over. Then Tim’s teasing cross had the keeper & a defender mistrusting of each other: the latter took it from the former, and almost managed to steer it in.
Then our opponents missed a point-blank chance and it was all heart-stopping, end-to-end stuff.
But still more drama. With two minutes to play the day’s poor refereeing was capped by an award of a penalty to Monash: Peter apparently fouled an opponent with his jaw, which he clutched as, to the bemusement of both sides, the ref pointed to the spot.
But thank goodness for Gareth! (that well-known cry). He had been patrolling as linesman and getting increasingly frustrated that his attempts to help the ref were ignored. But now the ref was persuaded to consult with him, and the ref (to his credit) accepted that he’d got it wrong.
We breathed again but almost too soon: there was still time for another near miss from our opponents, as well as some chances for us.
1-1 was probably fair in the end. We could be proud of our performance. If we can repeat it regularly, we can definitely make it to the top four.
That three midfielders topped the man-of-the-match voting tells the story. John S was third, Bob second, and Peter just pipped them: the goal (as ever) no doubt helping. Gareth, of course, really deserved some points, but really - to record a phrase that we invented after the game, and are quite proud of - football was the real winner
Thanks to Gareth (again) and to James for being linesman at 3pm; also to John for reffing at 3 at short notice, and to Tim for the beers.
MARK BRYANT