Ninth Team Raid the Bank and Steal a Massive
Win
A crisp but bright winter afternoon brought a
tough challenge for the ninth team, looking to recover from
last week's new year hangover. Facing the nines' usual
collection of grizzled veterans, raw youngsters and other
well fed human specimens, the HSBC side looked worryingly like a team of
players at the peak of their careers and
fitness.
But we were full strength. We would show
that the team spirit built in the autumn wasn't going to be
lost after a single defeat - and all that experience could be put
to good use.
We got off to the best possible start, five
minutes on the clock and good work from Mo and Silver Fox
Pete won us a throw deep in HSBC territory. Chris picked up
the ball, turned and found a way through the HSBC defence to
set up Rob for a simple tap in.
Long way to go though and in fact the
scoreline was not to change for fully 65 minutes. It
wasn't for lack of opportunities though. The rest of the half was mostly
HSBC pressure, punctuated by a few Poly raids. It
looked like the visitors had equalised on 17 minutes but the ref's whistle
saved us. We responded with a counter attack and Mo
brought a good tipover from the visting keeper, but again HSBC were
upon us and it took a determined block from the excellent
Petr Holecek to keep them out when the Poly back line looked like
it had breached. As the half advanced, the visitors'
dominance only grew. Two great saves from Dan postponed what looked
like the inevitable equaliser, a third effort evaded his
gloves but rattled back to safety off the crossbar, and finally,
amidst a furious goalmouth scramble, a golden opportunity for
the visitors was scrambled over the bar when it looked easier
to score. The halftime whistle was a beautiful sound
indeed.
Suitably refreshed, the Poly resumed in more
composed fashion. Fresh legs came to the aid of the
party, Danny, Nathan and Irish Tom replacing Mo, Grim Reaper Tom and
Neal respectively. We went back on the attack, with
good work from Rob winning a corner, and the same man later bringing a good
save from the keeper but HSBC still had the wind in their
sails, bringing another great save from Dan and needing a goal
line clearance from Irish Tom to preserve the slender Poly
lead. But whereas in the first half it had felt like only a
matter of time before HSBC would equalise, the pendulumn now
seemed to be slowly moving back in favour of the home
team.
From the 65th minute onward things really
opened up. Substitute Nathan Watling almost had an
impact, setting up a cross which Chris couldn't quite scramble
home. But both were then involved in the goal that
broke the long stalemate, Nathan setting Rob free to let off a low shot, the
keeper, facing the bright London sunset, could only block and
Chris was following in to claim his simple tap in. We could
then have settled things moments later when Rob tested the
keeper with a cheeky chip, but this time he did will to tip it
wide. And then, on 74 minutes, the moment that seemed
to spell the end of the visitors' hopes. HSBC attacked with pace
to break through the middle of the Poly defence. Tom,
covering from the right, could only try a desperate challenge that
brought the attacker down on the edge of the 'D' - and was
perhaps thankful that Craig had been aware enough to come in and
give the cover that would save him from anything more serious
than a stern lecture.
But it was still a great chance to set up a
grandstand finish. Not to be. The shot sailed over Dan's
bar and the HSBC spirits slumped. A feeling most of us
know well enough, but not enough to make us merciful when there was fun
to be had against the living dead opposition. Chris
more or less immediately put things beyond all
doubt, bewitching the dazzled goalie with a
swirling shot from outside the area. Hell I used to
hate defending that goal into the Sun - and hopefully will come to hate
it again sometime soon. Rob tried to get his brace but
the post denied him.
And then, just as things seemed to finally be
winding down, a corner. Up goes birthday boy Hutchings
and sure enough, scoops in the loose ball from close range for his
first ever Poly goal - richly deserved for a performance of
great maturity and consistency.
Probably our best result of the season then
and whilst we'd better not get carried away, the title
challenge is still on.
MAN OF THE MATCH ANALYSIS : It would be easy
to look at the scorers and assists and call it a toss up
between Chris and Rob. They both had good games to be sure but this
was a contest that was won more by the resolution of our
defending than what we achieved up front.
Throughout the long periods of HSBC pressure
it was the consistency with which we managed to disrupt
the opponents by harrying, getting a foot in and
showing reassurance when under pressure that set us up to go
forward and win the game in the second half. Dan B, Pete B
and Petr would all be serious candidates, whilst Mo, Neal,
Craig and Tom G are all worth honourable mentions for their
defensive contributions.
However, on the day I'll give it to Andy,
resolute and unflappable at the back like a late vintage
Richard Gough and defying the freshly advanced years with a
well deserved goal. Nice pictures too, amazing what you
can do with Photoshop these days!