Lane Cove West 6, Lindfield 0
A game with much
of last week’s pattern. We played shakily early against a team with just one
win. Scored a goal, still didn’t really settle down or get it together, looked
wobbly, made our opponents look good. So last week we
lost 3-1. This week? Won 6-0.
What is it that
makes the difference? Graham Taylor’s answer would be: scoring “what we call
the second goal”. But what makes us do that or not? Is it just luck? Discuss.
But before the
second goal, we scored the first, and a good one it was too. Pressure on their
‘keeper had him rushing out of goal, and stranded. The ball went out to Brian
out on the left, but a long way out. A cool head and a precise strike combined
to send it back over the ‘keeper and into the net: 1-0. Brian’s first goal for
20 years (other than when he was our penalty taker, also back a while now).
We still weren’t
that convincing: hesitating to go for the ball, or call for it; passing wildly;
not doing the simple things.
But then another
long-range strike from the left, this time from Peter, and it was 2-0, and we
breathed a bit easier.
And the game was
graced by the full range of James’s corner repertoire. He’s now let us into the
secret (which might be useful for us to know, in the circumstances): there’s
just the two of them. Firstly, the one described three weeks ago as “the corner
that hangs over the penalty spot for someone to power in and head home”. Today
it was Peter’s turn, so after about 20 minutes it was 3-0. (For the second
variation, see goal 5 below).
Our confidence
was now up, and more goals seemed sure to follow. But Lindfield
were showing spirit and attacking regularly. Our defence
was resolute throughout, and soon a fine clearance from Brian was lofted high
into Lindfield’s half with James and a defender in
pursuit. Thinking of a cut-back into the area, and my sidefoot
into the net – or diving header perhaps would be the go – I raced forward too.
I must have started from a long way back, since I passed Ernie on the way. He
had breath enough to advise me not to bother: James would be fine by himself.
Ernie’s always been good at reading the game, but this was prophetic: James got
to the ball, shook off the defender, and managed a shot. Not powerful, but the
’keeper let it through his legs, and 4-0 it was.
Half-time had us
agreeing that this was quite a nice score, but we could play a lot better; we
should score four more; and we should let in none.
We succeeded in
two and a half of these objectives.
Certainly we
played much better, and the chances came thick and fast. Bob was masterful in
the air and was unlucky in front of goal several times: within five seconds
hitting the left post, then missing the right one by
an inch. I headed narrowly wide. We hit the bar. Jon injured himself, almost
getting to a ball that squirmed near the right-hand post.
Meantime Lindfield were still not lying down. A breakaway saw them
hit the post from a narrow angle. And Tony had to take some back-passes under
pressure. (Fortunately, though, Dave only had the one shot on our goal this
week, and it was tamely wide.).
Then came James’s corner variation 2: curling wickedly inside the
near post. For the second time in a fortnight, a defender could do nothing but
help it on its way in – this time with a mighty kick. Too mighty for it to
count as anything other than an own goal, but in honour
of this developing skill, the DGAC (Dubious Goal Attribution Committee) has
decided to rule the effort two weeks ago as James’s goal, rather than an own,
goal. The official records have been amended so that, as in “1984” (novel, not
Euro tournament), it is as if no other truth had ever been.
5-0, but still
we were far from satisfied. Many more chances later, Bob – who was most unlucky
not to join in the goal-fest – poked a pass into space for me just in front of
goal, and one poke later it was 6-0.
And there’s
always something new. In desperation Lindfield now
tried a shot from the kick-off. It missed, of course – well wide, but made it
over the line. Goal-kick, we all thought; except the ref who wanted it retaken,
troubled that only one Lindfield player had touched
the ball. Who cares? of course, in retrospect: a
retaken kick-off when you’re 6-0 up with minutes to go is not exactly menacing,
is it? But at the time you can’t help arguing. The ref was now troubled by a
new question, which he asked himself aloud: why would anyone kick the ball out of play directly from a kick-off?
But this brings to mind the definition of an expert: someone who can tell you
that what has happened in practice can’t happen in theory!
Regrettably for
the ref, he had not the benefit of Google close at hand. Yes, you can score
from a kick-off. No, the ball doesn’t have to be touched by a second player
before it’s in play. The only restriction is that the player taking the kick
can’t touch it a second time before someone else does. Which this one hadn’t, so goal kick was the
right decision.
James won the
man-of-the match voting again. I think that Bob & Peter had the other two
places (but my efficient note of this has been inefficiently lost). Brian
missed out, unfairly in my judgement: classic mistake
of doing his most stunning work early in the game (when it really mattered) but
memories fade by voting time.
Thanks
to Phil for organizing the subs; to Howard for reffing
at 3pm; and to Martin & me for assisting.
MARK BRYANT