It all builds up into a truly memorable scene. Picture this. A 12.30 meet at the Birch Hotel for an away fixture a 30 second drive away. 12.30 comes and goes, 12.45 comes and goes. Only myself, Leo, JC, Chris Lane and Fish are waiting. Roy rings and says he’s running late so to hell with it, head off without him. He will make up the time somehow. Righto boss. Off we trek. Before we get into the big notes of a particularly fine Gloria Estefan number on the boom box….you know the one….it goes one ……1-2-3-4 come on baby say you love me 5-6-7 times , 8-9-10-11 I'm just gonna keep on counting until you're mine ....that one, we arrive to be greeted by ?????? ….nobody. None of them, none of us just a local lad randomly playing with cones in the car park. Apparently on duty for a wedding later in the day. Sadly we didn’t get a sniff at the bride before she said “I do” but I think Leo, JC and me maybe in the wedding pictures as we stood for far too long at the window staring into the hall after the game eager for a vol-au-vent and the chance to get a dance and a kiss from the bride.
So anyway, in dribs and drabs we arrive. Duly followed by the kit still in a cardboard box, a selection of flat, oddly shaped and rather pathetic looking footballs. That said though we all felt in cup final mode as Scaynes Hill by far have the finest changing rooms we’ve used in this league so there were a few takers to sign for them next season on this basis!
To give Roy a huge dollop of credit he pulled from the bag a mighty fine looking side. I say this because I was pleased to be in it and pleased to be playing footy with a great bunch of boys all gagging to put right the wrong of October time I think it was when we got dicked by the Hill 5 nil.
We warm up with a fine rendition of headers and volleys, keepy uppy and Wembley. Then we start to get on it and get the proverbial bead on and we do look set. Brilliantly then the day gets topped off when the Las Vegas wonder hot foots it from Baggage Reclaim to get to the ground and don the 12 dog shirt. Welcome Jimma, good to see you. We were all disappointed he didn’t bring a Toberlone with him though.
We go for it 4-3-3.
3 pronged attack with Leo down the middle with pace and guile either side in the form of Wadey and Handsey. Across the Middle were another 3 mighty fine faces. Christian, Jimmy and Joe – world class that for Div 4. Across the back was Whitie and Frankie in the middle and Ben and JC slotting in the full back berths. Big nuts Lane in goal and we were set. What fabulous options on the bench as well. Young Fisher to come on and terrorise them going forward and Jimmy to come on and terrorise them going backwards!
To the action then. We started poorly. Everyone got onto the ball and played good passes but Hill’s tempo was vastly better than ours and always threatened. Within 30 seconds we were lucky not to go a goal behind. New roles, new set up so it was bound to take time. We gave them one too many sniffs at our onion bag and with a flat back line stepping out, the little Mutu chap ran in behind and went wide. Dan did well to cover round but not so well when he hoofed him to the floor. Naye bother though as matey stuck the penalty straight into the trees. Totally crap penalty which was hard to take in from their most influential player by far. They had a good vibe about them but they didn’t make a good half hour count.
We had a fee kick about 40 yards out on the angle and Dan White's trusty left swung her in and onto my noggin about 5 yards out. Keeper never came and I did when I headed her home. 1-0 and truth be told against the run of play. Oh well who cares. Half time and we are lucky to be in front.
Not too much abuse flying around at half time unlike the first team changing room we heard sometime later……raise the sluggishness and we will win.
We go out and get about them. Much better. Jimmy and Christian playing some good passes in a tight space on a small pitch. Ben and JC start coming into it a lot more and play some great balls down the lines. JC in particular used the fact he has no left foot at left back very well to goose his man about 15 times in the 2nd half. Leo not seeing enough of the ball but with Wadey and Hansey seeing lots its only a matter of time before we convert this pressure. From a corner played deep to the far stick I head back across goal and into the danger area for Jimmy to smash home off the underside of the bar. Always sounds nice when they go flying in with a little “ding” on the way. 2-0 and in control.
They score straight away. Some dude cuts in from the left and threads an inviting tap in cross for his mate. Arse – 2-1.
We go down the other end and score straight after. 3-1. Wadey with some fine work chipping the onrushing keeps.
Dan White has a brilliant 20 minute spell, Fisher comes into the game to freshen it up, Chris Lane's kicking continues to be impeccable, Joe Reed thumps more crunching tackles in and Handsey does some great tracking and defending. Not going bad at all. Clearing our lines easily and creating chances. Should have wrapped it up by the time they crack in a super free kick with 10 to go.
We hold on well. No moaning, no handbags just support, good chat and encouragement from all. A pleasure to play in. Take the first sluggish 15 mins out of the game and it looks bright and promising for the 2nds. 3 wins on the bounce isn’t going to win us the league but it gives us confidence and a belief we can keep pushing on upwards.
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