Thrapston Town 4 v Weekley Rovers Purple 6
On the day before Halloween, Thrapston failed
to exorcise the ghost in their machine, and start producing
the football that their expectant, but increasingly merely
hopeful crowd know they are capable of. Had the coach learned
anything during his spell studying the defensive techniques
in Serie A?
Injury and illness deprived Town of the services of Mssrs
Gallagher and Curtis and their spectre hung over a makeshift
defence that did their best, but were often undone through
lack of marking in a first half in which Thrapston played
in to a strong wind.
No sooner had the game started than Town were behind –
naivety letting Rovers through on goal. Then number two, a
similar affair. Heads dropping, this could be carnage. Then
from nowhere, a first attack. Tom Alsop, on the edge of the
box and a slide rule pass in to the far corner of the net.
A lifeline, let us build on it.
Then a kick in the teeth – a speculative punt forward
from half way catches on the breeze. Alex Vitue advances to
collect the ball at the edge of his box, only to see it bounce
over his head and in to the net. Unfair on the team, but more
importantly unfair on a keeper who before and after this aberration,
was to pull of a string of fine saves to keep town in the
match.
As half time approached, Alsop lined up a free kick 22 years
from goal. His well hit effort was deflected on its way to
resting in the corner of the onion bag. Three, two down at
half time, a real chance to push on for victory in a second
half that would see Town playing with the wind at their backs.
But it went horribly wrong early in the second half when
Vitue brought down an attacker in the box and the penalty
was converted. Justas the heads dropped again, so things took
another twist.
Good interplay between Cummins and Alsop release Luke Rivett
who coolly slotted past the advancing keeper. Within a minute
Town were level as the ball was squared in the box and Lewis
Burton stroked the ball home. The supporters struggled to
think where they last saw a comeback like it – Istanbul
was mentioned, but certainly not the Riverside last evening.
Looking like the most likely team to go on and win it Thrapston
pushed on in search of number 5. However, it was not to be,
as defensive poor play gifted Weekley number 5, as a failure
to clear was seized upon, and then number 6 came from a corner
where no Thrapston player felt the need to bother marking
anyone.
Oh well. One day soon your correspondent will report a victory,
but until that day, the team must keep the faith, keep trying
and occasionally, just occasionally win a tackle and clear
their lines.
Man of the Match – For keeping the side in the match
in one sided first half, with two goals the MOTM award was
given to Tom Alsop
Final Score – Thrapston Town four, Weekley Rovers Purple
Six
|
