Old Woodhouseians v Old Challoners
LOB Intermediate Cup; round 2
Team: Williams; Lancaster, Weidner (Rae, 55), Foster, Lord; Daw, Bevins P, Croker, Maker (Cawley. 55); Thomas, Fitch
Score: 3:4
Scorers: Fitch, Lancaster, Lord 2
This match will live long in the memory of those that played in black and white striped shirts. Although our stripes ran vertically when we ran out for the first half they had undeniably taken a 90 degree turn by the end with each of us sporting a little black mask as we made our getaway in 3 Mini Coopers.
The day started poorly as the curse of Multi-map and British Rail struck combined with Spurs inevitable 'goal-fest' at home to Sunderland ensuring the late arrival of half the team. With kick-off fast approaching Netball training was cut short as there was only time for a brief stretch before the match was underway.
We started poorly struggling to keep hold of possession but slowly we started working a few openings down the right but could only manage one shot on goal and several corners. From our best attack the opposition goalkeeper collided with one of his own defenders in clearing Daw's shot and was forced to limp for the rest of the half before he was subbed at half time. Despite the keepers injury we were unable to capitalise and it was Woodhouseians who actually took the lead after a break down the left resulted in a cross to the unmarked centre forward for 1-0. The game see-sawed and eventually we managed an equaliser when Fitch tapped in a Bevins corner. The score remained level up until the half despite plenty more scares for the 'shamble' defence being employed by Challoners.
Running out for the second half we felt we couldn't play so poorly as in the first half but how wrong we were! Despite starting brightly with a couple of decent efforts we were suddenly under the cosh again. Firstly Foster managed to get his head in the way of a certain goal after a poor clearance from Williams and then Williams was called upon to make a couple of decent saves. Eventually though the pressure told and 2 goals in 5 minutes saw Challoners staring down the barrel of cup elimination at 1-3. A double substitution and a change of formation to 3-4-3 was decided as the best way back into the game. It didn't look that hopeful as the attacks kept coming but fortunately they were unable to find the net including the miss of the season from Woodhouseians sub as he ballooned over with an open goal at his mercy 6 yards out.
There appeared no way back with only 7 minutes left until a massive slice of luck helped to get us back into the game as a Nick 'Ronnie Biggs' Lancaster cross swirled and swerved in the air to elude the sub keeper and nestle in the far corner 2-3. Constant pressure was the order of the day and again we forced several corners and it was from one of these that Gary 'Dick Turpin' Lord stood and delivered the equaliser as he headed in unmarked from inside the 6yd box, was there a little push, sometimes they're given sometimes they aren't? With extra time looming there was just time for yet another corner and Bevins floated another one on to Turpin's head to make it 4-3…unbelievable! The game re-started and fortunately for us there was only a matter of seconds left and we were through.
With wanted dead or alive posters going up all round North London and the sounds of sirens in the distance Challoners beat a hasty retreat to the safety of the last 16 and a home tie against Economicals II's.
Man-Of-The-Match - Lord, it was difficult to find anyone who had a half decent game but Lordy's self-professed John Terry-esque aerial prowess from set pieces won us the game in the dying minutes.
THE LANCASTER VERDICT:
Daylight robbery!! A dreadful performance but we are through, the only positive can be the character shown not to give up even though we were absolute sh**e.
Report by Nick Lancaster
Manager's comments;
The worst performance of my managerial reign. We couldn't do anything right for the first 80 minutes. I would hate to see the possession stats as we failed to keep hold of the ball for any length of time. Our best spell was a series of corners in the first half as the opposition seemed unable to clear the ball forwards. All 3 of their goals came from our sloppy passing. The only positive was the never-say-die attitude of the 2s, personified by Phil Daw who was everywhere during our come back. MoM this week though to Gary Lord. The predatory beanpole had a game to forget at the back (during their 3rd goal he was passing the ball from the next pitch back to them!!) but his 2 late goals spared our blushes. The second was especially important, sparing everyone from an extra half hour of truly horrible football.
