Monday, April 23, 2007

We started with a 4-4-2 formation but with Matty up front because last time we played this lot (and lost 1-0) they had a very strong midfield who had most of the play. Last time our defence soaked up most attacks so we thought that if we could snuff out the midfield then we'd have the edge.

We started really well, they still looked good when they got the ball to their decent players, but we shut them down very quickly and stuck our feet in to make it uncomfortable for them. Then when we had the ball, we played simple stuff but played it well. It worked really well and you could see them start to get pissed off with each other because they were picking up scraps and chasing shadows. We hit the bar and had a few other chances, so were gutted after about 20 minutes when we lost the ball in midfield, they lumped it forward and their striker reacted fastest and lifted the ball over Smurfy to give them the lead.

But we reacted really well to it, everyone knew we were playing well so it was just a matter of time. We hit the bar again and had a few more chances, played some lovely stuff that had them running around looking lost, then Chris Miller cleared the ball straight up the pitch, route one style for Lewis to latch on to and finish well. That was just a few minutes before half time, good time to score, although we actually then had a chance to score again before half time but their keeper was having a great game.

Everyone was up for it at halftime, even if we'd come in a goal down we were still playing really well. Waggon are a good side and we were dominating. They changed a few things at half time and started quite well in the second half. They had the ball for longer and shifted up the pitch rather than hoofing it up the pitch. Then they got a corner but he's hit it weird and it's swerved a bit and dropped straight in just under the bar. Gutted, but again we reacted really well.

We put Gareth on pretty much on the hour, on the right wing (he's left footed) and we had Macca on the left wing (he's right footed) because it was working well with them running down but then cutting inside. On about his second touch, Gareth's picked the ball up about 30 yards out and instead of doing what he was told, cutting inside, he's just launched it with his right foot. It's flown up into the air, dipped beautifully and dropped right into the top corner. Now their keeper was good, but he was beaten as soon as the ball left Gareth's foot. Great goal.

So that was 2-2. We put Browny on and almost immediately they should have scored again. Nothing to do with Browny though. Macca's played a hospital ball back to Chris Miller inside our box and their bloke's nipped through (could have gone down too) but he's chipped a cross over and their bloke is free, on the edge of hte 6 yard box. Thankfully he's turned out to be shit and has glanced his header rather than get decent contact.

That was their last chance. All the chasing they did in the first half began to show and we were just searching for a winner, attack after attack. Right at the death Lewis has gone through one on one but struck it too well and it's sailed wide, but by then it didn't matter - cos he struck it well the ball flew a long way away which was good enough.

So it finished 2-2. Meaning that's our first home game that we've dropped points and that Waggon are the only team we haven't beaten this season. But the main thing is that the point we did get was the one that means nobody can catch us even if we lose our last 2 games by 100 goals each. We are champions and nobody can catch us. We can build this thing together, standing stones forever, nothing's gonna stop us now. For if the world runs out of lovers, we'll still have each other, nothing's gonna stop us, nothing's gonna stop us now.

Man of the match was JT who didn't put a foot wrong and set up so many attacks by playing simple balls properly. All 3 subs that went on got straight into the game and played sublimely - Andy Miller playing little deft through balls and Browny releasing Dave Lewis a number of times just by using the channels and playing the ball nicely weighted into space. Crabbeman and Adam snuffed out their very talented midfield better than I've seen for a very long time. Lewis kicked each of their defenders at least once around the ears and injured their keeper too (they should have learnt not to get in his way by now surely?). Genghis went on some attacking runs. With the ball.

Seriously, everyone was at the top of their game, just when we really needed it and on another day that could've been a 5 or 6 goal game. But we got what we needed.

We had a penalty competition at the end as well to determine next season's penalty taker. Turns out I can't save penalties for love nor money. Only saved one out of about 25 and that one hurt. Smurfy fared a little better but then began taking his clothes off which I think affected his concentration. Lewis won it in the end, not missing any out of what must have been over 10 penalties. With JT coming in 2nd and winning nothing.

It was a pleasure to watch, to be honest. Waggon are easily the 2nd best team in the league, despite what the table says, and we looked awesome against them.

Happy now?