Derby Day. Habs at home.

Despite the match being arguably the most important game of the season in terms of rivalry, the build up to the game felt like any other. It took us a while to get the warm up going, and shortly afterwards, it became apparent that our match would be kicking off late due to the absence of the referee (who was useless all game).This was an annoyance to us all, but especially to Malkin, who had to head off to a matinee performance at the Theatre by quarter past one, and apparently couldn’t be late (I’ll let you decide if he got his priorities right). Anyway, with the extra time we had spare before kick off, it was decided we’d practice defending corners, a historical weakness of MTS sides. But buoyed by our performance in that drill, having not conceded, and after some stern words from Kasler before kick off, we felt ready.

However, our confidence took a blow only a couple of minutes into the game, when the visitors won a corner on the right hand side. The ball was whipped in along the six yard box and after a bit of a scramble in the area, their striker knocked the ball in, 0-1. Despite the disappointment of conceding a sloppy goal so early on, we began to play some nice football, and shortly afterwards, we were rewarded with an equalizer. After some one touch passing and quick movement down the left wing, TK crossed the ball in, and Shil, who had made a late run into the box, found himself in space and tucked the ball home, 1-1. Yet the score didn’t stay equal for long, as we conceded another corner moments later, and panic eschewed. The ball was once again played in from the right hand side, and a game of pinball began in the box. Habs won the first header at the back post, then the second, which was superbly tipped onto the bar by Malkin (I never thought I’d have to say that), but unfortunately the ball was allowed to bounce in our six yard box, and their winger, who was first to react, acrobatically knocked it passed Malkin and that was that, 1-2. Two set pieces, two goals, classic MTS.

Soon after going behind, Kasler made a few changes, bringing on Dave and Ferguson, both on debut having been promoted from the 2’s, and Warren, and these turned out to be inspired. Once again the ball was worked nicely down the left wing, and as it was crossed in, Dave, who had been put in an unorthodox position on the right wing, found space to knock the ball passed the keeper to restore parity, 2-2.

From then on, both teams appeared equally matched, but shortly before half time, the ball was worked out to the right wing, where Ferguson, playing at right back, found time and space to whip a low cross in across the face of goal, which Sanker was able to divert passed the keeper, 3-2.

We went in to half time on a high, knowing that we were pretty fortunate to go in leading, but soon after, the game was turned on its head. A speculative long ball was played over the top by Habs’ defence, and Warren, who was under pressure from a Habs midfielder, went to clear the ball 20 yards from our own goal. However, instead of clearing the ball up field, the ball cannoned into the onrushing midfielder and flew over Malkin and into our net. A sheer fluke, but Habs didn’t care, as they drew level at 3-3. Still in disbelief at the way we conceded that goal, we left ourselves exposed at the back and were swiftly punished again, when a cross from the right found their striker, who knocked it into the ground and passed Malkin to make it 4-3.

We pressed to try and find an equalizer, and with around 15 minutes to go, we were awarded a freekick halfway into Habs’ half. Gislingham floated the ball towards the back post, where from within a crowd of players, Jono leapt highest to head the ball back across goal. Fortunately Ferguson was standing in the right place at the right time, and despite fluffing his lines at the first attempt of shooting into the open goal from about two yards, he converted from his second, to draw the scores level at 4-4.

There wasn’t long to go, and as both teams pushed to try and grab a winner, the game became stretched. Sanker was booked for pulling a Habs midfielder back as he looked to launch a counter attack, while we road our luck as their winger missed a gilt edged chance to win the game when one on one with our stand in keeper Keating (Malkin had gone to the theatre).

However, fortunately, with seven minutes to go, the ball dropped to Gislingham in our own half, and despite being under pressure, he played an exquisite through ball over the top of the Habs defence, which Raschid was able to latch onto. He kept calm, and as the keeper advanced, swept the ball into the far corner of the Habs net to make it 5-4.

The last few minutes felt like an eternity, but thankfully we held out and recorded a much needed win, which also maintained OMT AFC’s (and Ash and Kasler's) record of never having lost to Habs.