A game of two halves

After almost 2 months of the season, we finally got to see what our home pitch looked like. Unfortunately, first viewing wasn't great and the decision was made to move onto the next pitch. With a squad ravaged by injury and absence and the manager enjoying the pleasures of St Lucia, we could've hoped for an easier game than a Treeton side who'd had a strong start to the season.

We were to find out fairly early on why the opposition had started the season so well. With a makeshift back 4 made up of players not known for their speed against a youthful front pairing who seemed to have pace to burn, balls over the top were causing no end of trouble. A couple of tight offside decisions went our way and as their shooting wasn't as effective as their running ability, we held it at 0-0.

Nothing much was going right in the opposite direction with a number of misplaced passes leaving our forwards playing off scraps. It was going to be a tight game and the last thing we needed was to concede a cheap goal, unfortunately, we did exactly that. Despite 25 years experience as a centre half, WEATH decided to ignore one of the first rules of defending: Never play across your own goal. In a moment of madness an attempted ball out to the full back was scuffed straight into the path of one of the pacy forwards. However, he didn't need run anywhere this time, the ball fell perfectly to his left foot and he took the invitation to smash it home.

The setback stirred us into action and we tried to push for an equaliser but Treeton were staying solid. A good run and cross from HIRSTY just evaded RHODES in the box but we seemed unable to create many clear cut chances. With the game finely balanced, another long ball by the opposition found the scorer of the first, who raced clean through. Cries of offside fell on deaf ears and DAN raced out to meet the forward who chose to flick it over his head. WEATH lumbered back to cover but somehow the blondie sneaked his low shot under a last gasp sliding challenge to make it 2-0.

Heads were down but just before half time, we nearly got a lifeline. A mad scramble in the box from a set piece found chances fall to NATH, WEATH and RHODES but none could get the killer touch and the keeper fell on the ball to keep the score the same at half time. Maybe we should've played on the other pitch!

The half time team talk consisted of a grovelling apology from the stand in manager and the need to be quicker and more composed. After recent comebacks, the feeling was there that we could still get something from the game and the same 11 headed out to give it a shot.

The second half started positively and with half a mind on atoning for the earlier error, WEATH won the ball in the centre of the pitch and set off forward. The thought of smashing one from 35 yards did appeal but instead, a simple ball into NATH was the more sensible option. There was no going back and the forward run continued into the box. NATH looked around for options and noticed that WEATH had found his way into space in between the centre halves. A perfectly weighted chip and side foot volley later and we were back in the game.

After those more familiar with my Sunday league career had picked themselves up off the floor at the sight of me scoring, the game restarted. The belief was there that we could now turn this around. To freshen things up, RHODES made way for a rather tanned looking care bear aka Pirlo aka GAV BENNETT. HIRSTY (fox)trotted into centre midfield and MITCHELL pushed further forward.

A few minutes later, the equaliser arrived from a corner. The ball was swung in low to NATH who flicked it goal wards, only to see his attempt cleared off the line. However, it was cleared straight back to him and he kept the ball alive, knocking it back across goal. The ball came off the bar this time and after a bit of pinball inside the 6 yard box, a header by WEATH was saved by the arm of the full back. The claims for a penalty were set to be loud but before they could start, BROWNY appeared to put an end to the scramble and knock it in. It had been a uncharacteristically quiet game by BROWNY's standards but after grabbing his goal you could sense that, like LEE B's visits to a buffet, one wasn't going to be enough.

Treeton were on the ropes and Malin tails were up. Every ball was being chased down and they weren't been given any time to settle. Nobody epitomised the effort more than resident Duracell Bunny MITCHELL who wouldn't leave the defenders and keeper alone. This pressure paid off and led to some panicky defending causing the keeper to rush a clearance. The ball was scuffed low to the twinkle toes of HIRSTY and without even a second thought, he smashed the ball hard and low into the empty net. Comeback complete.

At this point, the game evened out as they tried to get a foothold in the game. Things started to open up but thankfully, our back 4 was more solid and composed. Non more so than JAMES who was having another solid game at full back. It was from another piece of clever defending that he eased their winger off the ball and laid it back to WEATH who, after learning his lesson earlier, chose to smash the ball forward. MITCHELL claims he got a strand of hair on the ball (anything for an assist) to flick it onto BROWNY. The next part was never in doubt. 4-2.

That saw the end to any form of challenge from the Terriers. They had run out of energy and ideas and we were playing some of our best football of the season. The midfield and forwards looked like scoring every time we entered their half as we passed it around a now ragged back 4. The 5th goal came from another one of these moves where some crisp 1 and 2 touch passing saw HIRSTY play the killer ball into MITCHELL who lured the keeper out of his goal before teeing up NATH to walk it home.

To rub salt in the wounds BROWNY sealed his hat trick and Man of the Match award in style with a solid finish into the bottom corner from SPY's pull back.

From one of the worst halves of the season to the best. Unbelievable second half.

After the game, I contacted FERGIE to inform him of the result. In his words, he went "full mental", smashing back cocktails and sambucas like they were Ribena. Well done boys.