Sandridge Rovers 2 Knobs 0, Knobs 4 Sandridge Rovers 1

A beautiful sunny evening saw us play a bit rubbish in this game.  It was disappointing.  They played better football, had a couple of good players (especially there centre forward) and we didn’t cope very well.  They scored one from a corner and one from a ball over the top but I can’t remember which game had what.  I do know that this was the game that saw the dubious penalty awarded by our ‘Sportsman of the Year’ Twiggy, from the sidelines, after consultation with Ron the Referee.  The fact that the ball had already gone out for a goal kick didn’t seem to matter…or that’s what all our defence said.  It didn’t really matter though as we created few chances despite a putting a strong team out and we didn’t deserve to win.

For the second game there were wholesale changes with Chris Griffiths making a welcome return at the back.  We finally scored a goal, thanks to Richard poaching in the box but they pegged us back to make it 1-1.  In the second half we changed the formation to 4-5-1 with Vinny coming on and it seemed to make a big difference.  Suddenly the game was stretched across the park, there was more space and we looked an attacking force again.  Vinny netted two, his first one a peach of a goal, well hit past the keeper and his second, a tap-in after a cross from Gavin.  In the latter stages, with more options, Bully and Nick were putting some lovely through balls in and we were unlucky not to score more, especially Phil who hit the cross bar after Vinny unselfishly passed it to him despite being on a hat-trick.  Gavin scored the last goal after beating the offside trap and that was that.

Well done to all those involved, especially to those who were subbed on or off and didn’t complain.  There were some good performances, especially in the second game and it is important to think about formations and what might work as we’re playing games.  With Vinny playing, the 4-5-1 formation seems a good one, especially as it gives us extra re-enforcements in the middle of the park, whilst giving us attacking options out wide.  Something to ponder for next season perhaps but as is always the case, you’ve got to play horses for courses.

It was fun down the pub. John B said so as he collected the loot. Lots of good humour and Darren A seemed to suggest that there was some sort of succession talk between Gerry and Chairman Al but I couldn’t possibly comment.  Next up is Blunham on Sunday.  Good luck and no fighting!