Picture the scene – you have a 1300hrs pushback. What time would you ask your merry band of men to arrive in order to be able to run through some drills and have a warm up prior to an important game that your team is easily capable of taking 3 points from. 1200? 1130?
Our illustrious captain obviously thought that he was going to an Italian fashion afterparty, and decided the fashionably late time of 1330hrs would be good….
Starting with 10 men, the Accies made a strong start. It was obvious that the teams were very evenly matched on the pitch, although from the primeval grunts emanating form the opposition it was clear which side was higher up the evolutionary ladder (even with Ham bringing our average down a couple of points..). Lacking our token Frenchman, we were down on the smell of garlic, but equally our Dunkirk spirit was not weakend. It was a tough 10 minutes in which the Accies played well, working hard and hoping for reinforcement. The sight of a distinguished Fat Tony warming up on the sidelines buoyed the beleaguered players’ spirits, and a seamless transition from a 10-man defensive formation to our usual attacking 4-4-2 happened.
Some old familiar faces impressed with their silky skills (but not you Bidet), and worked seamlessly with some of our younger and newwer members. With some seriously fair and good umpiring (a novel and refreshing change in this league), a short corner was awarded. In a turn up for the books (naaaat), Thumper struck it straight from the top. A scrappy rebound later, Oldnall pushes at an open goal line from 3 ft, only to have a defender block it with his foot. Our eagle-eyed Indian friend blew up for the flick. Selflessly, Oldnall turned away, to hear the satisfying clunk of Tony putting the ball home from the spot.
One-nil.
The opposition pressed hard for the last 10 of the first half, spending a lot of time in the Accies 25, and it was fortunate that the half time whistle blew in order to allow the Accies to regroup. During this time, our feline-esque Scottish keeper did nothing for his outfield ambitions, making some of the younger players seriously ask why his nickname is 'McShite' and not 'McGood'.
Straight back from an inspiring team talk from the previously disorganised captain brought a change in the game back to how it was in the middle of the first half. Dominating play from the 3s, backed up by world class basics and good ball speed. Thumper dribbled the ball round the first defender, took it round the Sumo wrestler they had employed as centre back before switching on to the reverse for a creamy, lofted top-left goal.
Two-nil, the pressure was definitely on for the opposition.
After a continued pressure in their D, the Walton & Weybridge defence made an error and another short corner was awarded. Another Thumper hit from the top turned into a scrappy mess from the rebound. The ball dribbled parallel to the goal line past Oldnall on the left post, who hesitated not in turning behind him, and with a upright reverse stick nudged the ball against the backboard. Stunned looks from the opposition gave way to complaints of various natures, but the way Oldnall and the team claimed the goal loudly running back to restart gave the umpires no doubt as to the validity of the score.
Three nil, three points, job done.
In the Dad’s Army drill-hall style clubhouse after the game, it was overheard that their keeper’s nickname was ‘The Sieve’. Fitting. Maybe the thirds should always turn up to pushback late and undermanned… oh no, that didn’t go too well in the previous seasons.
League:
Pushback time: 24/10/2009 05:50PM
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no notes