I got the feeling today, that today was not going to be our day. It started badly with me forgetting the SatNav and after a quick journey home things could only get better.
How wrong was I……………..I thought as we were travelling approx 30 mile South into the deepest parts of rural Essex that we could have a staged meet up point. First pick up some players at Waterbeach and some at Histon……designed to save some travelling……………All went to plan at Waterbeach and then everything fell apart before we got to Histon, as we entered Impington a car containing parents and players passed us on their way to Waterbeach. A quick phone call and everything was sorted, followed by another quick phone call to say ”Luke had over slept and had gone AWOL in Histon”……..so waited and waited and waited.
They do say that good things come to those that wait…..how true……some 30 minutes later and we were on the road.
After finally arriving in Radwinter (a very rural part of Essex, Essex it was but sorry no sign of burberry on show today....chav's they always let you down) we were given our changing room. Well cupboard…….with 15 players and two adults their was no room for the Referee………….good job really; he wanted to give us his “when I was a boy” talk…….if I had had a chair I would have sat on the edge of it. Boys just focus on the game ahead.
Then came the football……………the pitch was……small……new……and horrible; again I got that same not our day thought.
The boys were briefed and the plan was hatched…….same as last week Gents, nice early goal, maybe even two……….lets put them on the back foot………smash one home before half time to finish them off…………like I said maybe not our day……….after eight minutes we were 1 - 0 down and had subbed a striker (he had been ill all week and not ready for a rapid start)……The boys kept pushing determined not to let this one slip…..but we were on the back foot…..defending hard, that hard that every time Joe R-N cleared the ball he smashed it over two hedges, one road and in to the next field. Good one Joe…….you had a cracking game.
Radwinter kept the pressure up and fired a few towards goal…….still 1 - 0, everything was wide or collected by Tom in goal. After Tom Carson had collected the ball in the 19th minute he dropped kicked it the length of the pitch, Alex Wenham and Connie Davies on the attack, Connie gave way, cracking placement by Alex and we were back in it, 1 – 1. Well done to Connie for giving his team mate the chance.
Again Radwinter attacked, we attacked, they attacked, you could say end to end stuff………and then the master plan……pop one in before half time……….a goal……2 – 1 ……but not for us…………a miss understanding concerning marking in defence and Radwinter had popped one in just before half time.
Half time talk went something like this………………lets get on there and pop one in, early goal would be great, put them on the back foot…blar blar blar……………and that is exactly what happened; Will Rolls smashed one in to the back of the net within 2 minutes of KO, cracking goal, 2 – 2.
Would I settle for a draw?….I asked myself….travel 30 miles and take a point…not a bad days work…travel 30 miles and take 3 is how the boys replied………A blistering break up the right by Luke, a battle on the edge of the box and a lovely weighted pass helped Tom Osborne smash his first of the season into the back of the net……3 – 2…………cracking football.
Twenty minutes to go………and back to end to end stuff……….we attacked……they attacked…………but to no a vale…………The match ended Radwinter 2 Waterbeach 3.
All the boys played outstanding today, Louis Pragnell as assistant manager…brilliant………Ships and Josh; a strong partnership in the making…Joe R-N, quality game………Ryan and Sam; solid on the left………Luke, James and Nathan dominating the midfield………Ozzie, Jason and Connie like rockets up the channels………Matt, Alex and Will creating problems up front……and Tom(giving me a heart attack from the goal in the 79th minute) solid …………every player gave 100% and never let their heads down…they dug deep and truly deserve the points today………A real team effort.......Boys, we are proud of all of you
Luke Brookes was named Man of the Match for his drive, determination and effort. Well-done Luke.
What more can I say; Just not our day………..I wish they were all like this
Played 2…… Won 2……6 Points…………Keep the dream alive.
TRAIN HARD....PLAY EASY |
