Match Report: Wednesday 5th May

Bibs – Roy’s team: Tuvvy, Rich B, Kev, Sam, Simon J, Roy, Jason Norwoich, Ross 9
Colours – Towney’s team: Will, Dave, Gavin, Rich C, Jason, Towney, Simon B, Dan 3

Another clear night, another great turn out including two newies in Ross and Dan who are friends of Jason Norwich, and another good game to watch.

Simon B picked sides and handed out bibs and immediately regretted it with Rich B and Simon Jowitt linking in midfield and spreading the ball around, however, no goals were forthcoming for either side. Tuvvy had started off in net for colours and was proving as good a stopper as he is a scorer and he denied Towney from close range.

At the other end, Simon J touched over the bar from close range and give it the proper, hands on head routine! Simon then turned in a stint in goal and had to be alert when Will crashed in one of his long range efforts….10 mins gone and still no goal.

The crowd were now baying for a goal, Kev tried his best with an exquisite turn and shot but over, Rich B weaved the kind of magic he hasn’t seen at Middlesboro since Downing left but Rich C was in no mood to allow the first goal in. It certainly wasn’t a boring match, and the level of skill was high. Matt Young will find it hard to keep up with it when he returns on wed – especially after all the drinking he’s allegedly been up to in Northumberland. ….

Back to the game; Dave C headed down a corner, for Simon..surely the master finisher was going to open up the scoring….over the bar. Rich B was playing really well in a drifting role, this time though Gavin stopped his shot. In desperation Roy ventured forward and through the nose bleed hit a shot. Over. 20 minutes gone…STILL 0-0!

Finally, Dan, newly arrived produced the quality to break Bibs’ defence, and laid it off to Will 0-1. The crowd went wild with relief – and with the confidence of the goal, colours went in search of a second. A great move saw Gavin and Will link but Simon B hit it wide. Then the sucker punch, and in my notes it reads 5 -> 3 -> 2 -> 1 (1-1) (own goal). In reality this means Simon J, Kev C and Rich B all linked in a great move starting in defence and Tuvvy equalised….can’t remember the own goal bit – was it Simon B?!! Answers on a postcard please to usual address.

At this point the lack of Brett, Phil, Matt and both Steves showed as neither team had any defenders!!! It was great to watch both sides playing effectively 1 – 5 – 2 and ‘going for it’. Suddenly the dam broke in dramatic style (think Wigan at Spurs this season), although it took touch of controversy. Simon J took the ball down the right, colours defence called the ball out – the linesman (sort, assistant referee) shouted ply on and Ross finished – 2-1 Bibs. 3-1 immediately followed, again a great build up with Ross and Kev linking up for Rich B to tap in – with his left foot! Rich then hit the bar after Jason N and Ross had set him up and Ross hit the post. There was more one way traffic than when Woody calls “It’s my round at the bar”. Tuvvy kept his composure again and made it 4-1. Not to be outdone, Simon J hit a 40 yard cross field pass to Tuvvy, who brought it down and passed to Jason who scored for 5-1.

Towney’s team were shell shocked. They had been in the game for 25 mins and now were destined to lose. Will had other ideas – give him a bit of space and he will punish you (thinking about it, he punishes you in very little space, but in the case, he did have space). Intercepting in his defensive third, he set off at pace, weaving round the non-existent defence before laying it off for Gavin to tap in. 5-2.

Again the game was strangely even, both sides attacking like in the film 300. It was only the score line that was imbalanced. Ross caped a fine debut with another for 6-2, Dan not to be outdone, scored after a nice layoff from Dave and Tuvvy completed his hat trick for 7-3.
Towney was back in net, making good saves with his feet and rushing out of goal to block attacks. He was unlucky that the first time he used his hands, it fell straight to Jason who made it 8-3. Heads were down on colours, players were massing on the touch line for the next match. Still enough time for Dan to hit over the bar from a closer range than Simon earlier in the game and for Towney to come out of goal and hit a quality effort over the fence. Having dominated for a couple of minutes, it was therefore a further irritation to colours that even when Jason had made a great save in net, Simon J got a tap in for 9-3 and the game was over.

Goal of the week: There wasn’t quite the quality of the previous weeks’. Most seemed to be tap ins, although Tuvvy will try and claim he scored 3 so one should be, and Rich B will bring up the fact his was left footed…however, I am one for team build ups and Jason Norwich scored a good goal after Simon J and Tuvvy had combined over 40 yards. So for the second week running, it goes to a goal born out of team play. Well done bibs and Jason.

Man of the match: No competition! Simon Jowett was awesome. He was everywhere, heading clear, tackling, saving and spraying the ball around. He also got the final goal. A really fine performance and when he sobers up from Leeds’ promotion, he can be thoroughly proud of himself!! Well done Simon.