Old Challoners v Running Horse
Berks & Bucks Junior Cup Semi Final
Team: Weisz, Cawley, Rogers, Walsh, Croucher, Powell, Lowes, Fallon, Baker, Brown, Sub - Gardner
Venue: Hervines Park
Attendance: Capacity
KO: 2pm
As we get to the business end of the season Old Challoners were looking to recreate their early season form to progress in the Berks & Bucks competition. With the prospect of a cup final looming Old Challoners were focused on victory to progress, football to enjoy and a team talk that don't involve the ref and his mates - you can't have everything.
The Game Plan - Confidence, Shape & Two Touch Football
The biggest concern for the day was Fuz's disciplinary record affecting the remainder of the season. With a host of yellow cards against his name, one more could potentially prevent him playing from playing in a cup final. We all had our fingers crossed that he would keep a cool head and his bullying tactics to a minimum.
A fast paced opening to the game suited the Challoners as we retained possession and created chances, with the knowledge that the team's stamina would prevail in the last 20 minutes. However no sooner had Weiszy given us "The Hair Dryer" before kick off had Chris Powell put us in the driving seat. A great ball from Walsh found Baker on the edge of the box who, with a Bergkampesque touch (that's £20 you owe me, Jimbo), put Powellie in on goal, rounding the keeper superbly and finishing to put us one up. A great start with a well-worked goal.
Challoners continued to pile on the pressure in the following passage of play with Richard Cawley's close range effort blocked, a Fuz left foot drive flying just over (ball never to be seen again), and Dave Croucher's shot pushed onto the post and out of play. It was with this resulting corner that we extended our lead, as Fallon's delivery was met by Baker's head at the penalty spot travelling directly to the keeper's hands. It is at these moments in matches that experience counts for everything. The wily old pro Rogers had read the situation exactly and placed himself along the path of the ball's flight, enabling himself to get his noggin to change the ball's flight and fly into the net. Two assists for Jimbo and we were going in at half-time leading 2-0.
The second half found the game continuing in our favour with Powell, knowing he was missing next week, decided to do twice his workload in order to make up for it. Our third goal showed the ability to break as a team. A Running Horse attack found the ball bouncing around in our penalty area which was removed acrobatically by Richard Cawley (a sitting down, over head kick by a giant is something to behold) to Weisz at right back who, with a bit of Cafu wizardry (another £20), gave the ball to Garnder at right midfield. A quick ball to Fuz allowed him to burst past his marker, drive towards the box and pass to the unmarked Baker who found the back of the net.
A fourth goal followed soon after with Fuz sent clear by Fallon. Racing clear from the back line, the keeper palmed his effort on goal but still found its way into the onion bag.
However it is here, at 4-0, that we found our two worst moments of the game. Firstly a lesson in "juggling" from Lowes brought the team close to breakdown. After some great interplay in the midfield, Powell sent Lowes clear of the defence and in on the keeper (with his speed who's going to catch him?). At the edge of the box he had the choice of shoot or run past the keeper…. of which Lowes did neither and decided on the orthodox Boumsong and hoofed the ball into the air, then tried to make up for this error by heading the ball to Fuz (he'll know what to do here)!! No excuses.
Even worse though was Fuz's own reckless decision making. With ten minutes to go, one of our attacks ended with a wayward shot and the ball travelling a distance that would take seven minutes to retrieve. With Running Horse's keeper sprinting after the ball Fuz decided to take the law into his own hands and………went to the side of the pitch and GOT A DRINK OF WATER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know what you must all be thinking but he really is a nice guy. Seriously. His lack of understanding of the rules of football apart, he's the sort of man you'd be happy your daughter was with at 4am on a Saturday morning. For his actions a yellow card was inevitable and we apologise on behalf of the club for such outrageous behaviour.
A great game for Challoners - Confidence, Shape and Two Touch Football. A slogan for the day and a focus for the next ten games!
Fallon MOM - After lengthy discussions and statistical reviews it appears that Ben wanted to award the prestigious Fallon MOM award to the living legend that is ….Ben Fallon (Cheers and Screams heard from here to China)!!
MOM - Chris Powell (cheers for doing my job for me)
