Picture the scene – a disgustingly early pushback (1300hrs), and weather that was definitely significantly brighter and warmer than it had any right to be. The match was at Bank of England, a ground the 3rds had been making their own with a continuing domineering presence at training on said fast, slippery pitch. The vast majority of the squad turned up a good 90 minutes before push-back – no, not some horrendous administrative error, but the new more professional 3rd XI outlook. However, after 10 minutes of chat and 10 minutes of warm-up, the team were at a bit of a loss of how to occupy the subsequent hour and a bit. Perhaps one can have too much of a good thing… Confident from the first game of the season’s comprehensive ass-whooping, the 13-man squad – about 5 more than is the 3rd XI usual – gathered in the shadows. This was the scene, remember, of El Capitano Phipps relegating some teenaged whippersnapper to hospital a few seasons back with his ‘Bonecrusher™’ tackling style. If this were a movie,, here would be some moody music to go with a few flashbacks, and maybe even a montage (remember, even Rocky had a sports-training montage).
The realization we were up against one of the top teams in the league had not gone unnoticed, but fresh from the news that the vast majority of the team were graduates from the world’s 4th best university, we were confident our intellectual superiority would mirror across to our sporting prowess. A strong but slightly depleted squad welcomed future popstar Ellis to the midfield, but with Anthony ‘Hat-trick’ Pears being one of those hailed for greater things with a return to the 2nds, who was to fill those giant’s shoes? Rob Oldnall, that’s who. With the prowess of ex-housemates James ‘McShite’ McLucas and himself up front, with their near-telepathic communication, how could it fail to be a goalfest?
After the initial whistle, however, things weren’t going as smoothly as were hoped for. A combination of some good pressure from OKs and some lack of confidence for the umpires made for a frustrating start for the Accies. The pressure was definitely on, but the 3rd showed their spirit and started to take it back to basics and forge forward. With 30 mins gone in the first half, and with the team just about getting used to the previously mythical concept of ‘substitutes’, a revived Robert took to the field. Conscious of the pressures upon him, and with a view to being picked up for the 1st XI this season to replace the aging Mukhtar, he picked up a long ball sent through from somewhere at the backline. Dancing through the first defender, he was on the ball, one-on-one with the annoying, loud Soutafrikaan centre back – not one for lacking self-confidence. However, like Apartheid, his ideas proved unfounded. A silky manoeuvre form the physically fine form of Capt Oldnall saw him easily dispatch a perfectly weighted slap that had the keeper all ends up and ricocheted off the backboard. In a departure form last seasons relaxed, pretend ‘it ain’t no thang’ lack of celebration, Oldnall loudly claimed it, running back to the centre spot shouting with glee, both hands aloft.
One nil up at half-time, the team talk was confident and positive. Without wishing to give the opposition time to mentally recover, with a shout of ‘WILDBOYS!’ the team took the game to the OKs and lined up in the same position they left. Something, however happened at half time and the Accies were caught napping as the opposition slotted home a weak goal to level the match shortly into the second half. The 3rd XI lost momentum, and with their heads down proceeded to be highly pressured in their own half. With the post-match analysis showing the umpires missed approximately 97% of the fouls in the game, it was difficult for both sides to remain calm and measured. The inevitable happened, and a second goal for OKs crept past the quietest keeper since Toby.
A final fight back looked better, but the OKs knew that with the time left and the umpiring prowess on display, all they had to do was hold on to the ball – which they did. They also seemed to show their polytechnic roots by misunderstanding the name of God’s own Hockey Club, thinking we were UCL Agriculturals. Judging by some of the hockey on show, they may have had a point though.
A frustrating 2-1 loss to one of the best sides in the league was disappointing, but something to build upon.
League:
Pushback time: 10/10/2009 05:09PM
Meeting point:
Meeting point:
no notes