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25 Nov 2007: Sevenoaks Town Rovers 4:5 Grasshoppers November 29, 2007

Posted by editor in : Uncategorized , trackback

This was the first time for ages that the guys let their performance levels fall below the levels which Keith, Phil and themselves have set.  The really good news is that, even playing as badly as we did, we still won, which is a really good quality for any team to have.  The bad news is that all the parents watching aged about 15 years between having to listen to Connor’s dog barking and watching our defence self destruct.  Phil looked physically sick at times and Keith, who was on the phone and getting it second hand from Ian, caused a little cloud of blue air to hover around Ian’s head.

 

 

 

The first problem we can sort out by buying Connor some dog training lessons for Christmas.  The second hopefully got sorted by Keith and Phil running a training session in awful conditions on Wednesday night.  Because if the defence plays like that against Raw Skills on Sunday, we are going to be in trouble.

 

 

 

Having said all of that, for anyone who just happened to see this game, it was a really exciting end to end game, with a bit of everything and loads of goals.  We got a warning of what was to come early on, when we defended an attack poorly and Sevenoaks punished us by taking the lead.  We operate a no blame culture in the team, but it was the defence’s fault and Danny didn’t save it- unlike the previous week when he stopped everything.

 

 

 

We then got our act together and started to show that we were the better team.  Their sweeper was unlucky to put through his own net when Robert crossed well, but quite frankly, if he hadn’t then Oskar, Connor, Cian, Tom and Harry were all there waiting to score.  After we got back on level terms, Oskar decided that, having come all this way, he might as well make a bit of an effort.  Having spent the first 10 minutes sulking (presumably about United’s loss to

Bolton ), he switched on the afterburners and ran their defence ragged.  His first goal was a bit rubbish quite honestly, but the second was pure class- lifting it over the keeper from outside the box with what can only be described as thinly disguised contempt.

 

 

 

We turned round at 3-1 and as soon as the second half started it was 4-1, with the best move of the game by miles. 

Taylor in central midfield found Tom on the right.  I don’t think Tom even looked up.  He just slid the ball down the line where he knew Harry would be waiting.  Harry took the ball past the left back and slid it inside, where Cian, faced with a keeper who was going to clatter him no matter what, coolly finished before taking the hit.  The whole move took less than ten seconds and the ball never left the ground. 

 

 

 

And then it all went wrong.  Sevenoaks’ number 7, who was a decent enough player, decided that aggression was called for.  He first clattered into Thomas, who was shaken, but able to carry on.  He then hit Max amidships, resulting in Max having to leave the field.  With Thomas not at 100% and a makeshift defence, we totally lost control of the game and almost before we knew it, they had scored three quick goals and it was 4-4.  Not one of the defenders was able to take control, organize, tackle, or clear the ball.  Danny went from being Mr Confident to looking like he had never played in goal before.  There was no communication- apart from the touchline, where Phil was doing his best to calm the defence down, while I was doing my best to rouse them up!  Sorry about that Phil.

 

 

 

During all of this, Tom also lost the plot.  Having been fouled by their No 7, he screamed at the ref and anyone else who came near him, before spending the next ten minutes chasing the no. 7 until he got a chance to hack him down.  In a period of less than 15 minutes, we went from a team playing sublime football and totally in control of the match, to a rabble of people who looked like they had never played together before and who were more interested in kicking our opponents than the ball.

 

 

 

But then Max came back on and everything was all right.  His calmness seemed to transmit throughout the team and we gradually regained control, firstly of ourselves and then of the match.  Our fifth goal was a bit scrappy in the end, but came from another good move through the midfield and involved both forwards before Robert finished it off.  Harry dropped back to protect the back four and we saw the rest of the game out fairly comfortably.

 

 

 

Goals this week for their No. 5, Oskar (2), Cian and Robert.  Honourable mentions for Max, Tom, Cian, Harry and Oskar.  MoM was selected by Ian, who apparently lives at St Dunstans, because he chose Nick.  No disrespect to Nick, but from where I was standing, the whole defence needs to improve on this performance.  I’d love to give the CRAP award to Oskar, but that finish was too good.  Cian put in a good shout by hitting the post again, but this week it has to be Tom for throwing a tantrum at the ref after being fouled and then going after their player.  Get polishing Tom. 

 

 

 

One serious note to finish.  We almost lost this match because we collectively lost the plot, due to one opponent getting aggressive with us.  Football is a hard game and as we go on, we will come up against aggression more and more.  When we do, how we react will dictate whether we win or lose.  There is nothing wrong with going in hard, but we must not allow ourselves to lose our composure or our concentration.  There are enough leaders in this team to keep it together, so let’s make sure we do that in future.

 

 

 

Quarter final of the cup next week against A league team Raw Skills, which will be a good test for us.  2 steps from Wembley!

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