Enigmatic 9s Fail to Get Started
Alan, 6 March 2010 23:15
The 9th team showed uglier side of their Jekyll and Hyde
character again, going down 0-3 to high flying Actonians.
With several new faces in the side, we had to hope to settle
things down quickly. A robust challenge from Giggsy in the
opening seconds seemed to promise a competitive encounter, but in
truth we never really got started and Actonians quickly took
control of the game, something which they never really let go
of.
However, we seemed to do just enough to hold the line for most
of the half, with Andy and Craig performing solidly. Disaster
turned to momentary triumph in the 20th minute when Tom Glavey
conceded a penalty, but Dan Buckland made an excellent save diving
to his left. Sadly though we didn't build on it and Actonians
resumed their pressure, taking the lead midway through the
half. Although we improved a little towards the interval it
was a relief to reach the interval with the scoreline still
tight.
In the second half we started a little better and with Big Tom
back up front after his unexpected morning business appointment
with an unfortunate - err - client, and with another new Tom
joining the fray in midfield, we began to look more robust.
But sadly the little bit of luck we had in the first half ran
out. Another penalty decision went against us on the hour
when a ball was drilled directly at Petr's arm, though he could
hardly have avoided it. This time Dan could do nothing about
an emphatic conversion of the spot kick. Ten minutes on and
Actonians made it 3-0 in controversial circumstances, with Poly
defenders convinced that the ball had gone out before being crossed
into the Poly box. But if the provider of the cross knew the
truth he wasn't enough of a sportsman to tell. The goal stood
and the contest fizzled out, despite some late pressure.
MOTM. On a day were we found little joy going forwards,
the decision was between Craig, Dan B and Andy for their
contributions to keeping the visitors at bay for most of the
afternoon. Andy edges it this week for the
most consistent contribution throughout, well done to him but we
will all surely hope next week presents a much more difficult
decision for the right reasons.
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