The 'A's
A warm and cheery welcome awaited the team on this unseasonably warm Sunday morning. As a sweep was made of the pitch to clear it of debris [there is another word but I'm loathe to use it] Strikers warmed up with skill and flair; it felt good to see the boys up and running again.
Matt, fresh from a '38 yard shot up where the spiders live' yesterday [is that ok?] wanted more glory and success today. Some of us not only wanted it but absolutely needed it after watching the Super Stuttering Seagulls at their South Coast neighbours. Once again, our young stars were on hand to cheer us up.
Joe W. [GK] with a Man of the Match performance [excuse me, but it's hard to type; got something in me eye - I'll be ok in a minute *sniff*], Ross, Ryan, Caldé, Matt W., Sam, Fin & Reggie lined up against a mixture of big lads and nippy wingers. The corresponding fixture last year saw us ship 4 goals with no reply so it clearly wasn't going to be a free-ride today and the boys weren't in possession of a fast-pass. And that's what you call taking a metaphor too far.
HR were soon into their stride forcing Joe into a fine save at full stretch. However, it wasn't long before Caldé and Reggie linked up; the latter's power drive shaking the post to it's roots. For a good five minutes HR shaded an even contest [pedant alert: can you shade an even contest?] but ASC were settling into their stride. The game needed a goal [Brian] and a soft ball across the area by Caldé took the first of a series of nasty bobbles and bounced out of the HR keeper's hands. Unfortunately, Reggie was stood next to him. You can guess the rest. HR 0 ASC 1
A mark of the boys' increasing football intelligence is the way the defence deal with pressure from attackers; drawing them in rather than hoofing it away in panic and making the opposition make mistakes. This happened on more than one occasion today and served to instill confidence throughout the team.
Ross was soon creating problems for the HR defence with a number of his trademark barnstorming runs. They had a few big lads but you've got to have the skill with it; Ross has both, as well as a right foot that would take the skin off a satsuma from 50 yards. One such strike was bravely parried by the HR keeper. Again, like a pantomime villain waiting in the wings, the goal machine that is Reggie popped it in where the . . . er . . . ants live? HR 0 ASC 2
HR were quick to respond with a bout of attacking that brought out the best in Joe and the defence. Breaking away from the barrage, Ryan threaded a ball through to Sam who was unlucky not to get a penalty. HR came back again but Ross and Sam harried their attack and there was no way through. Even a great HR cross and header proved fruitless. Another fine save from Joe allowed him to release the ball quickly to Ryan; his geometric pass to Reggie was beautifully controlled and dispatched. Hat-trick.
HR 0 ASC 3
Half time: Hangleton Rangers 0 ASC Strikers 3
HR came out with a good display of pressure. Matt W. responded well and headed clear for a corner as well as zipping along the right touch line to force a corner at the other end. Fin repeated this manoeuvre soon after and HR were struggling to hold the boys at bay. Matt W. executed a fine air-shot/dummy which allowed him to pick up the loose ball and spin it out to Ryan on the right wing. His deft touch and cross landed at the feet of Reggie. Fourteen goals in three outings. That's some return.
HR 0 ASC 4
You need to be sitting down for the next bit. It was at this point HR called to the ref, thereby exposing the greatest sporting scandal since the Calciopoli Italian Betting shenanigans of 2006. HR had been operating with eight players on the pitch for at least five minutes. It wasn't long before international press corps were swarming to Knoll Rec. Some of them even brought poo-bags, which was handy.
Distracted by their own indiscretion, HR allowed the ASC full back to blast a 40 yard [sic] shot which gave their keeper something to think about. He was soon back in action as Sam and Caldé linked up; a great save.
As was Joe's not long after [the double-sided tape on the gloves seems to have worked]. Sam then showed super-skills of close control in midfield.
The ball broke to Ross who only had the keeper to beat. A collective holding of the breath in anticipation of the fifth cheer of the day was made redundant as what's known as a nasty bobble thwarted Ross's intent.
ASC continued unabashed, their intelligence on the ball comfortably allowing them to stride to another superb victory. HR are a good team as we've seen and they finally got a consolation with a blast from the right that Joe could only parry into the inner part of the side-netting. HR 1 ASC 4
Another exciting display from the boys in yellow and a performance of which to be proud. Good times continue and, after Brighton's display yesterday, all is well in the world once again.
Full time: Hangleton Rangers 1 ASC Strikers 4
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The 'B's
Charlie [GK], Sharpy, Fraser, Henry [Claude], Bill, Sunny, Joe G., Joe W., & Max faced a new set of players who seemed keen to avenge the defeat in the first game.
Charlie was soon called into action with the first of a series of fine saves from the HR attack. A free-kick on the edge of the box saw a brave wall of boys in yellow face a solid strike that he was able to parry over the bar. Phew!
It remained very even throughout the game with Charlie seeing further action as he stretched to save a blistering left foot shot. Bill was having an encouraging game; strong in the tackle and good in the air. Joe W. linked up well with him during one attack with a scything ball through defence; on our home pitch Bill would've had time to get it but, as well as having the surface of a potato field, the HR pitch was very small.
Henry [Claude] covered back well as the ball broke free in midfield and was able to release Joe G. on a run that saw him too falling victim to the bumps and lumps on the pitch.
As the clock wound down toward half-time Bill took a knock in defence of the ASC lines and Charlie's safe hands were called on once again. Fraser's runs through midfield gave problems to HR but it wasn't quite happening up front. Still, there was always the second half to change things.
Half time HR 0 ASC 0
Fraser was out of the blocks from the whistle, forcing a corner in double-quick time. The ball broke free to the HR left back who switched play with a cross-field ball of Hoddle-esque proportions. Charlie did the business once again. A great save.
Joe W. executed a series of ear-drum bursting headers from defence; real power and precision. He still can't remember what day it is though.
HR were now laying siege to the ASC goal and it was real test for the defence, but one to which they proved equal. It was developing into a very entertaining game of football.
It then seemed the deadlock had been broken with a well executed shot across Charlie. The ball bounced off the far post and despite the on-coming HR forwards, he bravely jumped into the melée and made the ball his.
The 15º heat [we're a week and a half away from December!] was causing both teams to tire; surely a breakthrough would come? Although it was hot, Henry & Sharpy stayed cool and HR struggled to make an impact. Sunny was always on hand to clear the lines; as reliable as ever. Max played his part in a solid defensive display, being strong in the face of pressure to recover the ball near the touchline.
As HR ran out of ideas, Joe W. cleared from defence into the path of Joe G. but the HR defence were having none of it. Charlie was called into brave action not long after and as Max went on yet another run through midfield the whistle was blown and that very unusual phenomenon - a 0-0 draw - occurred for the first time in a long time.
No goals but a great watch nevertheless. Special mention goes to Fraser and Max who aren't afraid to take players on. Remember, success is built on a solid foundation - clean sheets are essential if you're going to win anything. Onward & upward!
Full time: Hangleton Rangers 0 ASC Strikers 0
