The home side lined up with a couple of enforced squad changes, with Conan and Shouey taking Cambs FA sponsored ‘holidays’. Old warhorse Tony, no sorry, Mark Turner came in at centre-back and the fit again Shane Roberts replaced Shouey on the bench. Darren Ansell, resplendent in his all in one romper suit, performed in the dual role of team mascot and ball boy. Sam T replaced Sam J between the sticks. Despite the stiffs not playing Van Cart decided against the option of a full bench (which I believe is now 35 under this years rule!). The Press Office was worried, following the Foxton match, about the curse of the early season ‘double’, having already defeated today’s opposition Cottenham away in the league. There was an autumnal feel to the conditions and Club hats were having their first outings of the season. Mystic-Al’s assessment was that the pitch was unfit due to ‘leaves on the lines’, well it would have stopped his ‘team’ working anyway!
Sulaiman Al Fahtie (‘just call me Larry’) was watching the home side for the first time since the ratification of his take-over by the Premier League. His presence, and the possible threat that his ‘new’ money might bring a raft of new signings in the January transfer window, spurred the home side to start unusually brightly, attacking the new Centre Court end. An early corner for the home side brought an imaginative and attacking option from the visitors. Cottenham chose to leave three up and give the home side with the choice to go man for man or deploy four markers. The early exchanges were even with the home side probing mainly down the left. Martin Turner had an early run and shot across the face of the goal that followed a superb forty- yard ball from his brother Mark. Mark Johnston was also looking lively down the left and turned on a sixpence to get in an amazing cross. Minutes later, a first time ball, from Martin, set Mark free but hit his shot from the edge of the box just over the bar as the defenders closed in. The visitors hit back when their centre forward received the ball with his back to goal, centrally and about twelve yards out; he turned and wriggled free but his left foot shot finished comfortably wide. The home side continued to dominate possession but had to be continually wary of the quick break. Marlon was clumsily fouled about thirty-five yards out, and about five yards to the right of the right hand post. Turner hit a superb shot over the wall that was arrowing into the top right corner. However, the keeper flung himself to his left and with the ball behind him some how managed to get his left hand to it and the ball rebounded off the upright to complete a remarkable save. The visitors again broke quickly and it was only thanks to superb tackles from Dazzler and Ali that the danger was averted. A good move, again down the left, involving Johnston and Bruges, resulted in a dangerous cross being headed behind by an onrushing defender (The PO YTS reckoned Tobinho converted a much more difficult own goal last week!). From the resultant corner, Cottenham inexplicably conceded a penalty (handball). Whittlesford’s Beckham (Alias ‘the Milkman’s son, Darren’ or Daz Newman as he is known to some local journalists) stepped up to sportingly pass the ball back to the keeper. The home side was almost immediately punished when a bit of hesitant goalkeeping from Sam resulted with him being rounded by the Cottenham number 9. Fortunately, Ali recovered to clear off the line. Sam had to be alert to save when a Cottenham forward created himself a shooting opportunity inside the box. The home side hit back as a good ball to feet by Tobinho, was delightfully dummied by Martin, and Mark Johnston ran through to collect the ball but the keeper just managed to snuff out the chance. The half finished with a fierce Turner drive that flew just over.
Half time 0 v 0 – Despite the wages not being paid again this week I generously purchased the tea. The draw was made and for the 5th week running the winning ticket number was 711! The Marketing department handed out the October copies of Inside News, and for a change, the transaction didn’t cost the poor punter a penny!
The second half started brightly as chances were swapped at each end. Cottenham having a good move down the right flank but they failed to capitalize on a good pull back. The home side missed a gilt-edged chance when Shaun Elliot could only steer the ball back past the left hand post following a good cross from the left by-line. Although it looked harder to miss than score perhaps in Shaun’s defence, he may have seen it late. This miss proved costly as a good break by the visitors led to their unmarked number eight side footing in from about eight yards. Shouey complained from the sidelines and was quoted as saying ‘ what a-bout-cha linesman aaaargh he cannot do blah wahwahwhiii its arrrgh the rules’ (or something like that). The visitors then had a good spell where Sam needed to be alert to make a decent save down to his left following a good move down the left, and then he had to back-peddle rapidly to collect a lob after he had rushed out of the area to clear danger. A bit of defensive hesitation, then, let the visitors in on the right, and a cross to the far post left the forward with an easy tap in. Cottenham’s impressive number ten then had a fine run and excellent shot as he cut in from the right and hit it with his left, with his shot fizzing just over the bar. The home side were then spurred into action and looked to have more of a cutting edge with the introduction of Shane. Shane went close with a right-foot shot following a good ball down the right channel from Tobinho. Shane’s pace also created a couple of decent crossing opportunities that unfortunately, the home side never like looked like converting. Tobinho then threaded a ball through the middle of the defence to Mark Johnston who finished into the bottom left as the keeper advanced. The home side were back in the game and caution was thrown to the wind as Leeinho was introduced replacing Jim. This bold approach was rewarded with another penalty when an attempted through ball from Martin was needlessly handled by a defender. This time Martin stepped forward and considerately managed to pass it back to the keeper without any risk that the keeper may hurt his hands. The home side were dealt a second (or was it a third) penalty as the visitors broke and added a third to crown a fine attacking performance. I think that it was a game the home side could and should have won but I applaud Cottenham for their approach and in the end, I think they deserved their victory.
Supporters MoM – There was a strange heated argument between the PO YTS and Richard Redman , who argued for a full five minutes before realizing that they were both saying the same thing. Initially the YTS thought No-Neck was voting for Daz Newman and was incredulous accusing No-Neck of being a worse (or was it a wuss) judge than the absent Swanny. Dazzler was the clear winner, although Shouey did vote for their eleven (I think).
Sulaiman Al Fahtie (‘just call me Larry’) was heard muttering to Van Cart at the end that ‘I have a thousand camels that I will offer in return for a penalty taker’. A short-list was drawn up and included Pearce, Waddle, Southgate, Terry and about half a dozen from the Ghana and Brazilian U20’s. Doh! However, I thought it might just be cheaper and more effective to buy a red beach ball! |
