19:00 Coach puts finishing touches to amazing new formation that will exploit the pace of our 2 quickest players and rock the Derby City League.
23:00 Coach snuggles up in bed with tactics board (can’t take risk of putting it in kit bag yet in case word leaks out).
Thursday (training) evening:
18:44
19:00 Players too busy arguing about which position they’ll play in to appreciate the finer aspects of the amazing new formation.
Friday evening:
17:35 Number 2 quick player grounded and unavailable (Not been studying hard enough in the extra maths classes that became necessary after he lost count of the score against Allestree).
19:35 Only natural centre back confirmed out with twisted ankle.
23:30 Coach puts finishing touches to not quite so amazing new formation that might just exploit the pace of the one remaining quick player and win the occasional corner.
23:45 Tactics board modified & placed in kit bag.
Saturday morning:
05:30 Wake up. Too excited to get back to sleep. Worrying amount of rain hitting roof.
07:00 Give up trying to sleep. Look out of window. Something approaching a lake coming down the drive. (Sort of thing Cloughie would have walked across).
08:00 Carry out pitch inspection (in kayak).
08:01 Pitch passes inspection (we can still see the top half of the goalposts). Ring up club secretary and tell him the under 11’s will need the pitch with the best mooring.
08:45 Give up trying to eat breakfast – too excited.
09:30 Call from Mother of one remaining quick player. Player grounded.
09:31 Head butt tactics board so hard that head goes through board.
09:35 Parents of non grounded players want to know why I’m wearing a flee collar. Have to explain that it’s the tactics board containing the amazing new formation that will rock the Derby City League.
09:45 Go to local walk in Centre to get tactics board removed.
What of the Match:
At times the game looked a bit like one of those Shrove Tuesday ‘football’ matches with a mass of players moving round the pitch and the ball (rumoured to be) stuck somewhere in the middle. In fairness, both sides did their best to play football on a sticky old pitch. It was end-to-end stuff and the game could have gone either way.
It was fantastic to win but it was the manner of the win that was particularly pleasing. When the team had the chance to pass the ball and stretch the play they made a good fist of it. When there was defending to be done they got stuck in, in a way I’ve not previously seen. Up until the end of November the midfield regarded defending as a spectator sport. Yesterday I lost count of the number of times our players covered back to make sliding and even diving challenges. The team spirit was the best I’ve seen – it made all the effort worthwhile.
It was not surprising that the game’s only goal came in a goalmouth scramble, with Matthew D disappearing into a ruck of players and the ball trickling across the line. For the unfortunate Belper defence it was a bit like one of those nightmares where the bogeyman is after you. It doesn’t matter how hard you tell your legs to run you just can’t run fast enough to get away.
Kieron worked his socks off up front (yet again). James provided a decent outlet for through balls down the left side and Matthew D produced a succession of good crosses from the right in the second half. Sajid again came close to his first goal, hitting the Belper post. Matthew Harris had an outstanding debut, covering back well and always looking to make himself the time for a good pass. But for a fine save he would have scored a debut goal. Ahmed (Captain Marvel) ploughed his usual furrow, using his body to great effect to shield the ball. Robbie must have covered more ground than any other player on the park and Nass was his usual swashbuckling self.
But on a day when we kept our first ever clean sheet the defence must get a special mention: William – strong as ever in the challenge, Anupam – some good and vital interceptions, Kirk – a responsible and competent job in his first centre back appearance, Josh – outstanding, the man of the match marshalled the defence to their first ever clean sheet, and finally, the one and only Thomas Stanton – match winning saves are the norm from Thomas and he didn’t disappoint. One in the first half will live long in the memory.
Who needs tactics boards and match winning formations when you have a team of heroes?
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