Chapter 17
How to master the midget pitch (I’ll apologise to midgets now before Laurent gets upset)
The pitch was small, very small, but in a surprisingly beautiful condition, obviously thanks to quality grounds keeping.
AP lined up with Harald Krefting stepping in to cover at centre back, Josh Hyde again proving he’s a quality left back and Jack Dudmish having his full 5s debut.
With a number of absentees Robert Blade came to cover on the bench and Jordan Atkinson turned up on time to lend his long throws to the fray in the second half.
The match started at pace and AP were under the cosh in the first 10 mins. Despite the pressure when we had possession we concentrated on keeping the ball with short passing and width, Jack in particular working hard.
Our first goal came twenty minutes in and turned the tide of the game. John Gatenby chasing down the keeper to score a goal that the 5s are becoming synonymous with – “praying on cr@p keeper goals”.
With AP in the ascendency the second was inevitable and came from the best passing move of the season, starting with Marek and going one touch through Battams, Firth, Dudmish and Milligan who beautifully finished it off with a curling shot from just outside the area.
Half time we looked good, we concentrated on not sitting on our laurels and got straight back into our stride in the second half.
With Atkinson and Blade coming on for Firth and Kralik the OP pressure increased.
They had a number of chances, in particular through their 6’4 top goal scorer but luckily didn’t find the target.
On two occasions Mo got bored so gave the ball to the big man and followed it up with two sublime saves to tip powerful shots over the bar.
Despite the pressure we held on. The OP goal ten minutes from the end made it interesting but the team worked hard for each other to secure an excellent win.
Only AP team to win on the day and against a strong OP side.
Not too far off promotion spots so role on the next four games.
Our turn for the BIG cup QF Saturday so come along and support and have some beers with us after the game.
MoM: Pete Milligan, relishing his new CM role and pulled the strings when in possession.
