Thrapston Town 3 v Ise Lodge Eagles 4
So the catherine wheel of emotion turns again.
After a great start to the season, Thrapston returned to earth
like a spent rocket last week. How would they respond? As
sparklers or as damp blue touch paper? With a bang or a whimper?
We were keen to find out, this November the fifth.
The Eagles have started the season poorly, but Thrapston
were taking nothing for granted, as they were forced into
early defending as the eagles soared looking for prey. Burtonesque
leadership meant that where eagles dared, so did Thrapston,
with their defensive broadsword equal to the task.
Soon the eagles would pour water on the bonfire of Thrapston
adventure, racing in to a two goal lead after 20 minutes courtesy
of some sloppy old styli defending, which we thought had been
banished for the season, along with the witches masks and
capes of Halloween. Thrapston however seemed unable to hold
a candle, roman or otherwise, to the Eagles in this mood.
But then a lifeline, as Luke Rivett, back to his best, raced
on to through ball and converted expertly. Two One at half
time, all to play for in the second half, if we could show
more flare.
The second half began as the first had ended with Thrapston
probably having the better of what was a fairly scrappy encounter,
which the perfect playing surface at KJS didn’t assist!
With 15 minutes left, Rivett ran down the left flank, pulled
the ball back and Tom Alsop exploded the ball into the bottom
corner. All square, all to play for. Then with just a little
over 7 minutes left, the comeback was complete when Alsop
slotted home from the edge of the box. Time to hang on. Time
to dig in.
The comeback that evoked the merest hint of the spirit of
Istanbul was however turned in to greasy donner, with just
a couple of minutes left for play; First a handball in the
box gave the eagles a penalty, which was duly converted. Then
in injury time, a long punt forward from the keeper was latched
on to by the Eagles attacker who duly scored to break Town
hearts. On one side of the pitch the spectators celebrated
as if winning the league, while on the other you could have
heard the output from a flatulent mouse.
Final Score
Thrapston Town Three, Ise Lodge Eagles Four
MOTM – a much heralded and very welcome return to form
for Luke Rivett earned him the accolade today
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