Two wins on the bounce

Today marked the last game of 2018 for the tangerine army. A win today would see us move above the opposition in the league standings.
Pre-kick-off, the teams marked the anniversary of Leon Gavin's angel Nolan with a minutes applause, as ever well respected by the opposition.

A pleasure to be at the Estadio de Brixworth which is to be renamed the archaeological burial ground of Tove Valley.

The Sands men started the game on the front foot with some good passing football in some pretty tough conditions as yesterdays weather made the pitch a bit of a bog in the middle. However, the early domination could not lead to a goal and on Toves first attack down the right-hand side lead to their striker smashing the ball between Barker's legs and into the net. 0-1

A few minutes later and a long ball over the top lead us to discover that Hatcher is not Mr Gadget or if he is his go go gadget legs did not work as he missed the ball on the stretch, the Tove striker danced into the box and place a nice finish into the right-hand side of the sands goal 0-2, not the start we wanted.

Now the best thing about playing in bright tangerine is that the players cant go missing and it wasn't long before we were on the scoresheet a fine move saw the ball find its way to R.Harrison who ran on to the ball like Roadrunner running from coyote and put the ball where it belongs in the back of the net. 1-2.

That goal was a nice confidence builder as sands asserted themselves on the game more, a ball from T. Littlemore found Blake, who must have kicked himself in the head when trying the overhead kick last week and reactivated his football brain, he then made no mistake with a clinical finish to make the game Desmond 2-2.

The tangerine army now had the game firmly between their teeth, Littlemore hungover once more again having another good game in midfield winning tackles and releasing some key passes. It wasn't long before Gavin inspired by his angel produced a defence-splitting ball which again found blake and with the power of the headband he has put the sands men 3-2 up and well deserved.

Every now and then Tove remembered they can play football and a good attack down the right-hand side lead to a corner. It was curled in Barker came to collect then remembered he is a vampire and crosses are not good for him, ended up in no man's land and the Tove strikers header managed to flick in and somehow find its way in the gaps between four defenders on the line. 3-3

As we know though the spirit of our boys is second to none and R.Harrison soon had us back in front with a peach of a goal and not just any peach we are talking James' giant peach. Allen looked on from the bench nervously as he witnessed a masterclass in finishing from his competition.

Half-time 4-3.

The second half we started much stronger than we have in recent weeks, and within 9 minutes of the restart R.Harrison was put clean through one on one with keeper, he got their first and the Tove keeper kicked him over and a penalty was awarded. Now as today marked the anniversary of Nolan the team allowed Gavin to take the penalty over the two strikers on a hattrick. He made no mistake in burying the ball in the bottom left corner. 5-3

A few minutes later and Tove attacked for nearly the last time of the match, again down the right-hand side the ball was cut into the middle of the pitch, the striker took a couple of touches and slotted the ball to Barker's right. Last week he was Seaman, this week he was Sea-sick. 5-4

A couple of minutes later around the 70-minute mark, Tove made their last attack which ended up with a corner to them, sensing blood from their last corner they whipped the ball to the centre, little did they know that Barker would do the unthinkable come out and claim across, even the crowd was stunned at what they witnessed, that was not all though as he drop-kicked the ball to Allen who took on his man, ran towards goal and whipped the ball into the back of the net. 6-4 quite unbelievable scenes.

Now the boys were really beginning to enjoy themselves one moment say Allen and K.Harrison combine down the left wing, Harrison got into the box the crowd were on their toes, they thought this was it a goal in the history making, but then I am not sure what happened maybe the glare from his Moroccan sunset hair reflected back off the glistening white posts and ended up dazing him but the ball did not hit the net. It was a great move though.

Ten minutes from time another Sands attack saw us win a corner, delivered to the back post saw Hatcher head the ball back into the danger zone, the tove valley keeper was stunned and in a scene from mortal kombat, Hilliker did the job and finished him. 7-4

A great win and a great way to see out 2018, We've played better and not got the result so this really was quite lovely. Until 2019 have a great Christmas and a happy new year.