Weekley Rovers 2 v Thrapston 4
Matches like this are the cause of such high mortality rates
in managers, coaches and parents; they soar to the dizzy heights
and delights of sublime football and then plummet to earth
like a downhill skier out of control.
1-0 up in 12 seconds as Ryan Wright ghosted in at the far
post from a kick off routine. Goal number 2 follows in the
fourth minute as a Palmer cross is headed in by co-striker
Caller; and then it gets even better as Caller immediately
turns provider for Palmer to notch the third goal. Thrapston
are totally dominant and are playing thrilling football and
thoroughly deserve a fourth when Wright bagged his brace with
a (spooned) cross-shot. If this were a boxing match the ref
would have stopped the fight.
It was shortly after this I was reminded of a parking experience
in Liverpool; a great night out and when I got back to the
car the wheels had come off! And the wheels started to come
off here, a few wheel nuts loosened here and there and suddenly
you start worrying and begin counting the wheels left on the
wagon. Thrapston certainly took their feet off the gas (and
to be fair who wouldn’t at this age and this score line)
and instead of playing to team strengths, individualism crept
in. That was enough for Weekley to have their glimmer of hope
and little by little they clawed their way back into the game
and on the stroke of half time their tenacity was rewarded
with a goal, and an own goal at that, as Carter sliced the
ball past the keeper.
The second half was to be a pretty desperate affair for the
Thrapstonites present as the match took on a flavour of trench
warfare with the field more akin to the Somme than a football
pitch – a great leveller in footballing terms. The fragility
of the Thrapston defence was exposed and keeper Hansord dragged
down the marauding centre forward – no complaints about
the penalty but what was to follow was an interesting interpretation
of the laws. Penalty taken and then saved, but the whistle
is blown for encroachment and the rebound is then fired in
– I know the appropriate decision but did the referee
(or do you)? Anyway the goal is given, so again we have a
learning situation as to what our boys are made of under such
conditions. By heck it was tough on the blood pressure and
very quickly changes had to be made to steady the ship. Cameron
Glynn was moved back to central defence after his “day
out” in midfield and his covering abilities were soon
put to the test as Weekley continued to press.
Weekley dominated the second half not in footballing terms
but through shear strength and aggression. Weekley had some
excellent chances to draw closer in this game but Thrapston
clung on and even managed to create chances themselves, but
never looked as convincing in front of goal as they did in
the first half.
A win is a win, but what was very disappointing is that we
knew what sort of game this was going to be and had trained
for it. The serious concern is that too many players do not
have the heart for a battle and we will get a reputation as
the “Arsenal” of the league; capable of fantastic
football but put them under pressure and they wilt. Start
drinking the iron-bru this week boys as you will need all
the steel in your game possible as we take on Hellenics next
week and nothing but your best will be good enough.
Supporters Player of the Match: Ryan Caller
Mathew Hansord, David Morton, Harry Doubleday, Liam Carter,
John Davies, William Morrison, Alex Barlow, Cameron Glynn,
Ryan Wright, Ryan Caller, Alexander Palmer, Ross Munro, Lewis
Godfrey, Lewis Farden.
|
