Knobs 11 (sorry) 1 Sandy 7

The calm before the snowstorm.
How did that happen? Easy.
It's dead easy to lose, there are innumerable strategies. Winning? Usually requires a minimum of hard application, teamwork, individuals up for it and a smidgeon of good fortune.
We had, what I consider, apart from the overnight withdrawal of Martin with travel sickness, sorry sickness , a strong set of players out there. We played some eye pleasing stuff, some good individual moments but we were not as together as a team as we usually are. Perhaps I overhyped with 'win this and win the league' stuff. Anyway we started slowly with each individual error and some things not even errors being met with no little frustration being expressed between our players. There was far too much verbal stick being offered as a solution. They waltzed through for 2 nicely taken goals, straight down the middle with anything remotely resembling a tackle or a challenge sadly lacking. Remember our efforts during this spell , some will forget, but we forged our chances but didn't take them. They were wilting, we were coming on strong and we missed a golden chance to reduce the arrears when they started to bleat about half time. How long are you playing ref. 45 minutes quoth I. But the league rules are only 40 minutes each way! Emphatecially no they aren't. We play 45 each way. .A bet, sealed with a handshake not a kiss, was undertaken between referee and their manager and we proceeded to play 45. They were obviously suffering a bit and it was a matter of time. I then gave a soft penalty for a push by Chris- fuck you Ron could you not let it go? They score 3-0, halftime. A bridge too far?
Roy rallied the troops at half time, 3 at the back and let's go for it.
Fair enough. I have long wondered at vets level about such a system but it so much depends on the personnel available. With Brendan due an entry from the bench this was gonna be a problem, no disrespect to Brendan but I don't think that system was gonna suit him as one of the back three. For the first part of the second half it was working with Roy, Chris G and a very fast, into fray Alistair the back three. Chances we were conjuring however we were missing. Perhaps the 4th goal was the killer. They were troubling us with good centres, long throw ins and accurate corners so it was no surprise that one melee saw a scrambled goal. Trevor adamant he was fouled, I (from the dinosaur school of challenging- headmaster Peter McParland) saw nothing amiss. Roy said he himself had been obstructed by an arm- pots and kettles and black comes to mind! No way back noo hinnies bring on the snow and the makkems.
We gave them a penalty, Alistair the adamant linesman- aren't we bliddy fair? They scored another couple of scrappy ones when we were running forward harder than any time in the match and Gavin replied with our consolation.
Their linesman got some stick from them. A couple of us were told we are too nice- is that a euphemism for fair? If it had been closer..... it could have been jolly unpleasant so well done lads.
This was our home game, forced to swap because of the knackered state of our home pitch. I really believe we would have won if we'd been at home- greater room to use our pace and energy and also I feel they wouldn't have had such a strong side to make the long, wintry trek to Knebworth.
Anyway I'm glad we had a game and c'est la vie- we stuffed them up there earlier and no doubt we'll beat them again in the future.
Their central midfield lad was very good on the ball, on which he spent far too much time. Next time Roy should be earmarked to play up against him if he plays. I was thinking that throughout the game- my fault, I thought our strengths would come to the fore and simply cancel theirs out!
A shower, a shit and a shoeshine then a goodly turnout at the Three Horseshoes- a bit like the Station but with palatable food, quoffable beer, open log fires and staff who were pretty, welcoming and altogether human. I could have stayed up there all day but had to get the chicken bits back to the dogs.
AM SO SORRY we didn't win but also that we didn't do ourselves justice. I used to hate getting beat but 7-1 is a birrova choker.
Oh yes I, of course, was correct about the agreed league rules but I let Clive off with the tenner. Am so fucking nice.

Sad Ron