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QUICK THINKING SAVES THE DAY SLAYER FC 3 F McCormack (1) A Rivers (2)
SHEPPEY FC 3
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The
manager’s last report emphasised a need to improve in order to succeed.
With this sword of damaclese hanging firmly over everyone, a tentative
Slayer met at Victoria Rec a late change of venue and not a welcome one at
that, the pitch was in poor condition with what looked like the So
a somewhat subdued dressing room took to the field, the skippers match
instructions to keep the ball and to play a measured game firmly in
everyone’s mind. Although Sheppey may have the appearance of an old lags
outing to the mainland about them, they can play football and inside 15
minutes a long ball forward found the defence under pressure and Julian
caught in no mans land, a neat lob 1-0! Being a goal down did not reflect
the balance of play with neat work in all areas of the park, nor indeed
did it dampen a resurgent Slayer spirit. However a flicked on Sheppey
corner was neatly dispatched, 20 minutes 2-0!
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Being
2 down isn’t a place Slayer are used to being nor do they enjoy,
throwing caution to the wind the Skipper urged everyman to fight harder,
and so it was after a period of concerted pressure down the right
resulting in a slide rule pass the width of the pitch being met by Fred
and dispatched cleaner than a foot and mouth cow at slaughter, 2-1! Nick
“Canute” Slayers were turning the tide.. The
half time talk centred on Sheppey’s apparent unwillingness to chase the
ball and an apparent flaw in there fitness levels, it was to be all out
attack, harry, chase, fight for every ball. Within 10 minutes confusion
rained in the Sheppey goalmouth, the ball taking on pin ballesque
proportions as it appeared to hit almost everyone and anyone in the goal
mouth before Alex forced it over the line, 2-2. The spirit, determination and continuous support of each and every player was working, with 10 minutes to go Sheppey were awarded a free kick, just outside the D and central, what appeared to be an innocuous but well struck kick was spilled by Julian and charged down |
and
tapped in by a grateful Sheppey forward. 3-2 down, but Slayer was not
down, with renewed energy Slayer threw every man into the breach,
peppering the Sheppey goal mouth. At
this point it must be emphasised that the author is probably Alex’s
mentor and chief grief giver, and so it was somewhat fitting that after a
rash tackle, Slayer were awarded a free kick some 25 yards out and on the
right of the box. Expecting a high hopeful cross Sheppey left only a 2 man
wall and crucially the keeper guarded his back post. Alex
stepped up, saw the right corner of the goal unguarded and curled the ball
neatly into the vacant space 3-3!! Slayer were now everywhere pressing for
a winner, and so it almost came with seconds on the clock, Fred meeting
yet another cross from Alex at the far post only to see his header go
agonisingly wide. So 3-3 and in some ways a fair result, Slayer had adapted and overcome a fair footballing side, more importantly the Slayer spirit nurtured over past seasons shone through the adversity. So onwards and upwards, Next up, Ashford at the Bridge, Come on you Slayers……. Man of the match: Alec Rivers Team : Julian, Nick S, Matt, Fred, Mark K, Andre, Alec, Mark W, Mark C, Ian, Graham |
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