Castle Rise 2 v Thrapston Town
5
And so the season draws to a close. From the expression
of our high hopes and low fears last September, through winter’s
dark despair, to a bright new dawn, finally now fading at
this, the summer’s edge.
A season of delight, despair, encouragement, disappointment,
but ultimately significant improvement and future hope for
the Town. It was all there. Oh how those dropped points against
lowly Rushden and Vicarage Farm could have carried us to
third or fourth. Maybe with new inspiration, we can be at
all tomorrow’s parties, rather than leaving early to
catch the bus, just as it all kicks off.
Before looking back, or indeed looking forward, there was
the matter of a final game to play. No trophies or final
league placings to be determined for Town here. Just a sense
of getting the job done – twenty six games over 8 months – finally
the finishing post in sight. A carefree attitude, players
rotating through some unfamiliar positions, what did it matter,
demob happy in their newly issued away suits?
Town started in excellent form; passing, moving, creating.
chance after chance created form this flowing footiefest.
But just two first half goals from Mssrs Hodgson and Rivett
were scored to underline the domination, spoilt late in the
half when a defensive lapse gifted the Rise a foothold in
the match.
After the break, Town carried on where they left off, creating
chance after chance, making this quite possibly the performance
of the season. Expertly taken goals saw Devante Hodgson to
his hat-trick and 31 for the season, while Luke Rivett got
a brace to show for his industry. A great game, played in
the right spirit. A great performance from the Town, at the
end of a long but rewarding season. A nice way to bring down
the curtain on the Alsop era.
So here we are. All played out. This time next year, we’ll
be footballing millionaires, our teenage kicks sufficient
to conquer where this year we did fear to tread. A modicum
of further improvement, a tad more street wisedness, maybe
a couple of new signings, and this squad can compete with
the best. Now show the rest what how good you can be.
And as for your correspondent, the words of the famous
welsh poet Mickey Thomas carry him from the ground, and on
in to retirement, hot on the heels of the departing manager;
Do not go gentle into that flood light,
Old age should burn and rave in extra time;
Rage, rage against the linesman’s sight.
Though wise men at their end know the manager is right,
Because their words had forked no disrepute charge
Do not go gentle into that relegation fight.
Goodbye. |
