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ASB v Hampton & Richmond
| Date |
Opponent |
Venue |
Competition |
Season |
Result |
Goals For |
Goals Against |
| Sat 14th Feb 2009 |
Hampton & Richmond |
Bushy Park |
League |
08/09 |
won |
5 |
3 |
| Match Report |
With fixtures thinner on the ground than the hair on Woody's head, it
had been nearly a month since our last game, our Cup exit against
Millwall; so it was with some relief that Hampton and Richmond were
good enough to offer us a game at Bushy Park. The wintry weather
looked like it was going to thwart us but thankfully on Friday we got
the all-clear to play. Zack announced a squad of 14, including the
return of Jordan and Malik, but the inevitable drop outs on Saturday
morning meant we would start with just the 11 players.
We gradually pitched up at The Rising Sun pub and got ourselves
ready. It had obviously been a slow laundry week in the Sharkey
household as he displayed a fine pair of Superman underpants probably
last worn around 1988 (he didn't say if he had the matching duvet
cover as well). Pitchside it was still fairly solid underfoot with a
nice patch of snow/ice by one of the penalty areas, but that wasn't
going to bother us. We lined up as follows with quality all over the
park (and the majority of players the wrong side of 30!):
Tragi-Lee
Zack (aka Nutz, Balloono, Roberto Carlos)
Orv
Tom H (aka Prince Chesney)
Frange
Malik
Brian
Task
Slouch
Sharkey
Jordan
The game kicked off at a fair pace with Hampton happy to adapt the
classic IFA tactic of the long ball over the top, as we initially
struggled to get any kind of possession. After about ten minutes
their winger picked up the ball on the right and his cross was
deflected behind for a corner off Frange's groin (oof). The corner
was cleared out to the edge of the area but a Hampton player got to
the ball first and curled a well-placed shot (I thought) inside Rob's
far post - 1-0. That gave us the kick up the arse we needed and we
started to see more of the ball, there was some good play down the
right with Malik making a few of his trademark runs. The pressure was
beginning to tell and soon we had the equaliser as Jordan and Malik
combined well to release Sharkey who stuck the ball in the net to
make it 1-1. From then on we continued to lay siege to the Hampton
penalty area with a few set pieces that didn't quite get the end
result they deserved, so it was against the run of play that Hampton
were gifted a second goal with ribbons and bows on. The defence had
been holding their line well and we got a free kick to the right of
the penalty area after another offside decision. Orv prepared himself
to hit the ball upfield but Zack, ever the playmaker, trotted over to
receive the ball short. With the rest of ASB bemused by this Zack got
the ball, looked around, saw no other options but decided against
getting rid of the ball. In what seemed like slow motion Hampton's
large centre forward bore down on our gaffer, eased him off the ball
and prodded it past Rob from about 6 yards out. Not ideal, hopefully
the lesson will be learnt!
With ASB noses put out of joint by this we reacted very well, and
with the oppo possible surprised at being in front again we got them
on the back foot and turned the game around. Brian received the ball
in the centre circle and with Hampton players backing off him he
strode forward and unleashed a fierce low shot into the bottom left
hand corner - the Hammer was back, 2-2! The half was coming to a
close but there was still time for another goal, a corner from the
left found its way to Sharkey at the back post who managed to
position himself from low down to finish smartly from a tight angle,
3-2 ASB. The half time whistle soon went and we got together to
reflect on a hard-fought half; everyone had put a good shift in with
Brian and Task combining well in the centre of the park, Jordan and
Slouch giving them a hard time on the left and the back four keeping
the oppo at bay.
The pitch was now thawing, becoming muddy and making it more
difficult to stay on your feet. We knew we needed to score the next
goal and we started the second half with that purpose. Hampton had a
number of subs but it was difficult for them to adapt to the
conditions. Soon it was 4-2, Zack making a bursting run down the
right and playing in Brian who nutmegged the keeper at the near post.
Hampton did not give up however, their big man up front had a good
touch and could be a nuisance, but as long as we kept him quiet there
wasn't too much to bother us. With another game on the neighbouring
pitch you had to concentrate on the ref's whistle and this was the
oppo's undoing; with the ball in their half they stopped thinking our
ref had whistled when in fact it had come from the other game. As
they dawdled Malik nipped in to steal the ball and set up Jordan for
a simple finish from close range, 5-2.
Although we're unbeaten in the League we've still yet to record a
clean sheet this season and we hoped we could keep Hampton to nil in
the second half, but it wasn't to be. Tom just got caught the wrong
side of the line keeping one of their players onside who lifted the
ball past Rob to make it 5-3. Rob could do little about any of the
goals but he had a very solid 90 minutes; very vocal, good handling
and barely put a foot wrong all game. It made for a slightly tense
last ten minutes but we could have added to our tally, Orv put in an
excellent free kick for Sharkey who couldn't quite keep his shot
down. Slouch went on a typical mazy run but his powerful left foot
shot fizzed just wide of the far post. Hampton beat the offside trap
one more time but Rob was out swiftly to claim the ball.
The final whistle went on a job well done. Hampton had a big squad on
the day and made life difficult but we had enough to overcome the
setbacks and win fairly comfortably, and also maintain our 100%
record in the League. Fingers crossed that we can get some more games
in!
Frange |
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