Goals: Bowhill, Deblitz
(By Ryan Taylor/edited & censured by €)
You know you’ve had a bad game when you lose count of how many goals you’ve conceded and your man of the match is the keeper. Old Parks are flying high at the top of the league although after our poor start we felt that we could and should have done better than concede 9.
Things started badly when Taylor was pickpocketed by the right winger who played in the striker to make it 1 – 0. Bowhill pounced on a keeper error and hit a trademark drilled strike from outside the box into an open goal – admitting later he wasn’t aware the keeper hadn’t got back. The equaliser gave us false hope. Old Park’s quickly added another and after our own throw in put in Park’s for a third, it was about damage limitation.
We came in at half time 4 – 1 down. We talked about going out in the 2nd half and enjoying ourselves as we had nothing to lose. In fact we lost a bit of pride as Park’s extended their lead. Cutler who had replaced the perma-crocked Causer in central midfield was joined on the pitch by our other substitute Deblitz who introduced himself to the game by running from the half way line (some might remember Diego’s goal in 86) and coolly slotting into the bottom corner (Should it be goal of the season?).
Unfortunately this piece of sublime football was followed by more “mistakes” and/or “wrong” decisions. At the end Old Parks cruised to an easy (if not “made easier”) win – with one player eventually claiming 5 goals. After some real improvement in the last 4 games, we’ve had a bad day and were brought back to earth, all be it by a well drilled team.
So it’s back to the drawing board for next Saturday against mid table Broomfield 6s, a change of formation might be required as we’re still searching for the right balance in the team.
However the key is not so much which way we play, but how hard we work as individual and as a unit, how we identify opposition’s strength and weaknesses and quickly adapt our game accordingly. We all play to have fun, but it doesn’t mean we can’t try to use our brain.
P.S: remember, the ref is always right…
Team: Kendall, Taylor, € Caudebec (C), Paqdin, Malloy, Causer (Cutler), Kirton, Tornarides, Bowhill, Tullet, Rose (Deblitz)
