Goals: Canga, Wolfman(3)
Following complaints about recent match reports written by the self proclaimed, ‘The Gallaway’ I have been asked to write this week’s report to bring greater truth, accuracy and objectivity to proceedings. (Gallaway – What complaints!?)
We made the long journey to face an EBOG’s side lingering at the wrong end of the table feeling confident after back to back wins. The pre-match warm up took place as usual, the highlight being debutant Mohamad rocking up fifteen minutes before kick off with the excuse that he had been ‘looking for water for forty minutes!’
AP were raring to go, EBOG’s were less enthusiastic (probably due to the fact they had only ten men) when it became apparent that the ref hadn’t shown up. After what seemed liked forever waiting to find out what was going on new boy Arez Mohammad kindly agreed to take the whistle until the referee from the pitch next to us could take over.
AP started the match very well playing some nice stuff in midfield making use of their numerical advantage. Brabon hit a shot from the edge of the area just over the bar after good work by Gallaway and several attractive passing moves were just lacking a clinical final ball.
After fifteen minutes AP took the lead when Brabon found Wolfman with a through ball that ‘The Wolf’ lofted over the advancing goalkeeper, a composed finish from the debutant.
The goal seemed to spring EBOGS in to life, they began pressurising AP into mistakes and were causing our defence problems with their physicality and aerial strength. To remedy EBOGS improvement Gallaway moved Wilson into the centre of the park to add more bite and composure whilst moving Canga up front. The decision paid off when Canga gave AP a two goal lead, the ball ricocheting off his mid-drift after the goalkeeper attempted to clear a back pass.
The goal didn’t dampen EBOG’s spirits and now with eleven players they continued to put AP under pressure and it looked only a matter of time before they pulled a goal back. The alarms bells rang when their new arrival crashed a shot against the bar from twenty five yards with Nigel ‘Brian Kidd’ Bagley beaten all end up. With half time in sight, not for the first time in the game AP gave possession away deep in their own half. With Bagley stranded after expecting a back pass the EBOGS striker was left with the simple task of slotting in to a half empty net to half the deficit.
Angry words were exchanged at half time with Gallaway and Bagley perplexed as to how we could start the game so well and then let EBOGS back in to the game. The message for the second half was clear, ‘get an early goal and put the game to bed.’
Despite us playing down the slope the second half began in the same fashion with EBOGS on top. With a noticeably taller side EBOGS were causing AP problems with crosses in to the box and had a spate of menacing corners that seemed to evade everybody. Bagley was barking orders at the back four and had to be quick off his line on numerous occasions. Kashmiri also made a vital goal line clearance from a corner to ensure AP’s two goal lead remained intact.
With twenty minutes to go the EBOGS keeper decided to roll the ball out and go for a little stroll down the right wing, with nobody from AP thinking it might be wise to close him down he casually picked out a team mate with a long ball that two AP defenders lost sight of due to the bright sunshine. Out of nowhere the EBOG’S forward smashed an unexpected volley from an acute angle across the AP goal and into the far corner – he must have a foot like a traction engine!!!
Shell shocked AP were galvanised by this set back and discovered that if they played the way they were facing, kept it simple and passed to their team mates they were a far superior side to EBOGS. Gallaway managed to break free but to the disgust of several team mates unleashed an ambitious shot from about forty yards that went horribly high and wide. Who could blame him for having a go though, given his heroics at Old Lyonians and his new found propensity to score from distance?
AP turned the screw with ten minutes left to play with some neat interplay in central midfield resulting in Tullett presenting Wolfman with a gilt edged chance that ‘The Big Bad Wolf’ gobbled up, slotting low to the keeper’s right.
In the final minutes AP added a fourth with a carbon copy of the first goal. Brabon played a pin point ball in to the path of Sam Van Wolfswinkel who completed his hatrick by clinically half volleying past the stranded EBOGS keeper to atone for his team mates earlier howlers.
A good win for the 9s following a ‘mixed bag’ of a performance where we consistently gave the ball away in dangerous areas but also played some really good football and scored three excellent goals. The win leaves us comfortably in mid table and still with an outside chance of catching the 8ths. Man of The Match was awarded to Sam Wolfman who enjoyed a dream debut (Gallaway – It was not Wolfmans debut, nor was it even his first season at AP – however he hasn’t recently played much!). His performance was capped off by his choice of match day attire that can only be described as a flamboyant seventies styled shirt. Apparently he has 12 more; the squad wait in anticipation for next week.
Also a special mention must go out to Arez Mohammed who not only enjoyed a solid debut but also unselfishly refereed the first 30 minutes of the match. Nice one Arez.
