After a very frustrating two weeks with no reserves fixture, the boys were well up for a cup game against a Bolney Rovers side one division up from us. But the view from my office window all day Friday was monsoon like and I was convinced the pitch would resemble a post tsunami Sri Lankan paddy field. Thankfully the monsoon had not travelled as far south as Fletching and the pitch was in excellent condition. Firm but takes a decent stud (that’s enough about Jamie Unwin’s missus!). The new goals had been put up during the week by the usual suspect volunteers, our heartfelt thanks of-course, and cleaned pre match by yours truly desperate to be the first Fletching player to find the lilywhite net.
The pre-match talk was all about us playing as a team and expressing ourselves. The gaffer was keen to point out that it was only a cup match but far more important would be the cohesion and performance ready to re-kick start our league campaign. We were all sent out for an early warm up excellently marshalled by ‘Elton’ Dowding, our assistant manager, came back in for a final word before the refs whistle. The planning and preparation could not be better and immediately from kick-off we were right on the pace.
The first eight to ten minutes, Bolney could not get the ball out of their half and neutrals would have predicted a comfortable home win. The play was slick and movement a joy but a defensive error allowed the best player on the park an early opportunity and he rounded two more defenders before slotting past the keeper to give the visitors a lead. The Fletching response was calm and swift, as a good move down the left ended with Toby’s cross being handled in the box by a Bolney defender. Without hesitation I stepped up to take the pen and the words ‘I’ve never missed’ echoed in my head a dozen times as did ‘the first to score in the new goals.’ Well you can guess the rest – no, not rifled in the net…no, not saved…no, not miss-hit…just missed. Don’t worry Sol Man it can’t be as bad as Wolvey’s penalty a few years ago when the keeper had time to dive the wrong way, get back up, file his nails and paint a scenic water colour of the South Downs behind him, before safely collecting the ball that was rolled tamely straight at him! How can you not worry? Don’t matter. Course it matters!! Forget about it. How can you when every player, opponent supporters and even a neutral walking his dog bloody remind you??!!!!!! It’s only a game!! Even my proud son watching from the clubhouse rang home and asked to be picked up so he could go home and watch King Kong for the hundredth time to save him from the shame!
Back on the pitch the boys responded to this second setback with a smart move down the left and a low cross across the goal was tapped in by ‘Sinead’ Powell at the back post and we were back in it. As I went to congratulate him he muttered ‘I should have taken the penalty.’ Bolney were beginning to play far better and we less so as the half matured. Somehow we had managed to pass the initiative and the confidence and the number 9 was bossing all the play. A speculative unthreatening cross in our area was dealt poorly by our centre half and keeper and their red hot hitman got in between and poked the ball home to retain the lead once more. When half time came- we were 1-2 down with a missed penalty and two defensive errors. This isn’t blame- simply I am putting it into perspective that there was very little between the teams except our mistakes which were punished.
The second half never really got going for The Archers - were we unfit because we haven’t played for so long or simply short of ideas and lightweight in crucial areas? Questions, which need answering if we are to succeed in the league.
An early three-way substitution was made by Carter – Y.T.S on for Toby, Clarky replaced Matty Newman and Chris ‘Berries’ Hartup (ex-skipper on for the current skipper) in place of me. The gamble nearly paid off when ‘Ping’ Clark was unlucky not to score and they cleared off the line when a goal looked a certainty. We pressured without ever creating anything other than corners (excellently taken by Leevesy it has to be said) and our only true chance came late on when Chris Hartup was very unlucky not to score a beautifully struck volley from 30 yards. The keeper made a good save and shone throughout the game as the second best player on the pitch. Late positional changes were made – Cronin pushed up front, with Paul Dickens joining him, but none of this made any difference. The visitors third came when Bradders tried to re-create his heroics of yesteryear, bounding up for a corner as he looked to single handily force extra time. As Bolney cleared their defensive lines Bradley made it back to his own goal only for another defensive mistake which handed their number nine with a tap in for his hat trick, with which he obliged.
Champagne Moment From ‘The Sol Man’
The post match analysis in the bar was that we were beaten by one excellent player and three or four poor mistakes and (I know) a penalty miss. Though we shouldn’t be too hard on ourselves we must eliminate mistakes and create more clear cut opportunities, oh and change penalty taker! The only other observation is that the spine of any team needs to be really strong and maybe our can look a little lightweight at times. Food for thought for the backroom boys before next week’s crucial league game (if it’s on!).
Dom Perignon 81 Award -Chris Hartup's stunning thirty-yard volley, matched by a fine save.
Cost Cutter £1.49 Lambrini Award -My missed penalty. (Gently reminded by every first team player back at the clubhouse including bloody Leon Wolvey!!)
Team: Bradley, Eastoe, Hill, Dickens, Jefford, Newman (Clark), Leeves, Cronin, G.Dann, Keoshgerian (Hartup), Powell (Donnelly)