Knobs 3 Tesco Vets 3

On a lovely Sunday morning, a battle ensued.  We knew from last time that it would be a physical battle and so it proved yet again but it was pleasing to see that we were up for the fight, led in exemplary fashion by Darren A – our captain of the day, who harassed and hurried the opposition throughout and was quite magnificent.

With a bare 11 and the MBDA guy as the referee, we started off the game in good spirits, mainly because the goals were up (I think).  Unfortunately we soon found ourselves a goal down as woeful defending from Gavin saw a free-kick go over his head to the player he was supposedly marking and their man scuffed it into the back of the next with Good Tony just getting a hand on it but not preventing it from going in.  After that it was quite an open game but one with few chances.  We finally got a goal though when a through ball from Richard sent Gavin scampering on and his scuffed shot ended up with Vinny sweeping home.  They believed it was offside and it might have been but it wasn’t as obvious as they suggested.  They scored just before half-time with another shot nearly saved by Good Tony.  Overall though we looked quite solid with Darren B making a return alongside Tony and Sean and John doing some good work as full-backs.  Chris W was putting himself around in the middle of the park and Dave was huffing and puffing on the left hand side.

In the second half, a new guy turned up called Nick who came on in the middle of the park alongside Darren B and Chris W went to centre back.  Nick looked a very useful player and talk in the changing room afterwards suggests we might see more of him in the future.  He certainly got under the skin of the opposition and it could be argued that’s what changed the game after they went 3-1 up after a defensive error from Tony, who admittedly held his hands up straight away.  We had chances throughout the game but didn’t look like we were going to get the rub of the green but after a punt from Tony (or John), the ball bounced and hit the bar and Richard headed in.  Their keeper made some good saves and it looked like time was running out but after a lot of pressure, the ref gave a penalty for a handball in the box.  It was no more than we deserved and Gavin calmly tucked the penalty away despite little faith from his team mates.  Other notable moments included John Boyle hitting a lovely free kick that just went wide, Vinny having a wrestling match with their centre back that finished with a kiss, Good Tony showing himself again to be a very competent goalkeeper (sorry to say that) and like I said, Darren A having an absolute stormer in the middle.  If everybody could muster that energy, we’d be world beaters.  Unfortunately most of us can’t, hence our position in the league!  So 3-3 seemed like a fair result although they were clearly unhappy.  It was good that we kept going and going and going and a celebratory pint was well-deserved at The Station, led again by Darren A. and agreed by all.

Well done everyone…two battling performances in the past two weeks and hopefully we can keep those energy levels up for the remaining matches of the season.  Drawers never quit, quitters never draw!  Thatcher might say there is no such thing as society but the KNOBS are our own little society and we must believe in ourselves and the comrades alongside us, whoever that might be.  U-turn if you want to but this club’s not for turning!