THE COMMITTED WOUNDED

No Subs

All week I have followed the news that this bug was closing schools down.  I had calls from Peter and Scott’s parents on Friday to announce that they had been struck down with the bug.  When you consider Henner’s is out with a groin strain we were going to be cutting it thin.  As I woke up this morning I was dreading turning my phone on in case anybody had gone down ill overnight.  My worst fears were confirmed when Rod and Roger rang to say their lads were definitely out of the game.  Alex’s’ dad text me with similar news.  That left us with 10 men.   I put out an SOS call to Henry who kindly agreed to come and try his groin out for us.  That would give us the bare 11.  You can imagine my panic when the phone kept ringing this morning.  1stly my phone was flashing up Mick Halloran.  I feared the worst but luckily Michael had only lost a shirt.  Then Stevo’s mom rang me to ask if I could pick him up.  The panic was over and I knew we would just about get a team out.

Obviously we were forced into several changes.  Dylan replaced Alex upfront.  Ryan came in on the right side of midfield.  Matt B replaced Peter in the centre and Jack had to play centre back to replace Scott and Mike.  That is a lot of changes for any side so any type of win was an excellent result.

I have stressed all season that it is all about the squad this year and not just the bare 11.  All of our players have played a key role at some point and without the squad we would have had to forfeit today’s game.

Over the years we have relied heavily on the likes of Scott and Mike Cardall.  It is great to see that the other lads can step up in their absence and put in great performances of their own.

The game itself was fairly one sided.  We had control of the midfield and their never looked to be too much competition for Mark and Matt.  Ryan and Dayle gave us good width and yet again Jim’s distribution was excellent at left back.

Mike H and Dylan were a new look front partnership and it took 10 minutes or so for them to work it out but once they had we began to control the game.  Mike H was everywhere and his touch ands hold up play was as good as in recent weeks.  It was Mike who got the 1st goal with superb strength to hold off two challenges and a thumping finish into the far corner.

We were starting to use the space better and Ryan was seeing more of the ball.  We forced a corner and mark’s delivery was well headed by Mike H.  The ball was blocked but Henner’s was yet again on hand to make it 2-0.

We didn’t have too much defending to so but Jacko and Graham seemed to have things under control.  Stevo was on hand when needed.

The 3rd goal came quickly after.  Matt fed Ryan on the right and he skipped past his man only to be bought down for a penalty.  Mark stepped up and coolly made it 3-0.

Half time came and the injuries were beginning to tell.  Mike H knees were badly bleeding after an accident in the week.  Henner’s was suffering with his groin and Dayle’s asthma was playing up.  The lads didn’t moan though.  They got out there and put their bodies on the line for the team.  Mike H was on and off 5 or 6 times being patched up and I think it sums up the commitment that our players have when I told him he couldn’t go back on he was very upset as he wanted to be out there with his team mates.

The 2nd half was much the same.  We controlled the midfield and never really looked in danger at the back.  Mark was solid and his vision was excellent.  Matt B was running the show and we were using Ryan more and more.  Dylan came into his own upfront and looked much more like himself.

We missed a load of chances after half time.  Dylan, Matt B and Dayle all could have scored.  Graham headed wide from a Mark corner.  More goals eventually came.  Graham’s free kick found its way to Dylan and he brilliantly spun his man and broke through 1 on 1.  His finish was top class.  Matt B got a deserved goal when his super run past a couple of defenders sent him into the box.  He coolly finished his chance.  Mark got another deserved goal with our best move of the match.  Dylan linked up with him well and Mark burst into the area and almost took the net of with a thumping finish. 

Austin got a deserved goal for hard work but all in all we were very comfortable and could have won by a lot more.

I was delighted with the way we went about today as a whole.  Players like Jacko played in new positions and gave their all.  Ryan and Dylan gave us a reminder of what they are about and Mike H and Henry put their bodies on the line for the team.  I have at times questions this teams commitment but any doubts have been left way behind.  The effort and work rate in our last 3 games has been first rate.

We now have 2 tough away games at Coleshill and Hanbury.  We should have our squad back and selection will obviously be very tough .  We are a squad and every person is at important as the next and I hope that we can maintain the great team spirit shown today.

Steve