Saffron Walden 2 – Berkhamstead 3
12th December 2015
After checking the weather constantly all week and promoting
the match on Twitter, the day had finally come. Could we match, or even beat
our amazing FA Vase run from last season?
On Friday evening, I sat there listening to the rain come
down, praying the game would not be postponed. The club and supporters had done
a lot of work promoting the game, which was sponsored by the Curry Club.
I did my research on Berko. Berko are playing well in their
own league, and are in the top 3 of their domestic league. The Comrades – as
they like to be called, were not going to be easy, and would push the Bloods to
the limit. I met the chairman and he was very impressed by my mugs…Plug!
I arrived early, and set up my stall to sell the new mugs. I
caught up with all the regulars and had one of Andrew’s bacon and beef burgers.
I do recommend them. I have been to every away match this season, and I can confidently
say that the food quality and range, is the best I have come across all season.
You will do well to beat our team in the canteen!
Enough plugging and onto the beautiful game!
After the hand shake between the teams, I presented Dan
Grindrod with player of the month for November. Well done Dan. Very much
deserved.
TEAM: Floyd Croll,
Paul Abbot (Pabbo), Jamie Solkhon (Rocky), Matt Snelling (Mashy), Ben Lawrence
(Beast), Ryan Fleming (Rhino), Craig Calver (Wig), Jake Noble (Bobby) (Spike
Bell – 81 mins.), Graeme Turner (G Man), James Thomas (Zinedine), Dan Grindrod
(Viking) (Louis Harper – 51 mins.). Substitutes (not used): Joe Murphy (Boss),
James Crane (Road Runner), Neil Andrews.
The First Half
Not much happened in the first few minutes, until Berko’s
Tom Carter had a long range effort but it sailed over the bar. Rocky did well
to close Carter down, which put him off his shot.
Berko were looking good, and controlled the ball well. They
sent a dangerous ball into the box, but Rhino cleared the ball well out of the
danger zone.
Our first attempt on goal came from Zinedine. G Man did very
well to hold the ball at the corner flag, and wait for support from Pabbo.
Pabbo cured his cross; which found Zinedine’s head, but his header was straight
at Smith (Keeper).
12 minutes in, and Wig won us a throw in the Beast’s
territory. The throw was delivered into the box, but it was well cleared by
Parrelly.
17 minutes in and there were no clear chances for anyone. It
was all a little bit cagy, and no one wanted to make a mistake.
20 minutes in, and we had another opportunity from a Beast
throw. The throw was flicked into the box by Nobby, but was cleared by Berko.
Berko broke from the clearance, and won a corner kick. The corner kicker went straight
over everyone and out for a goal kick.
22 minutes in, and Berko scored a great goal from long
range. Hawes latched onto the ball, and struck a wind assisted shot from about
20 yards out which curled into the top right hand corner, giving Croll no
chance to save. It was a lovely goal, and worthy of an applause from both sets
of fans.
Berko started to grow in confidence after they took the
lead, and began putting pressure on the Bloods. They were looking good for
their lead.
Nash-Barker hit a lovely strike but it sailed over the bar,
and didn’t force a save from Croll.
Wig started to show his skills, by taking on the right back.
The right back tried to effortlessly to control Wig, but failed to hold on to
him. Wig managed to get a cross in, but it was well claimed by Smith.
38 minutes into the match, and there was more pressure from
Berko, who had won a corner. The corner was difficult to defend, due to the windy
conditions, but Rhino made a great clearance, which almost set Wig on a run.
40 minutes into the match, and Pabbo conceded a soft
penalty. Hawes stepped up to score comfortably from the penalty spot, to put
Berko firmly in control.
Croll was left in no man’s lands, after the Bloods didn’t intercept
a threatening long ball. Croll made the decision to come off his line, and
managed to get a hand to the ball, before the Berko player had chance to
control the ball and shoot.
The half time whistle went and Berko had deserved their 2-0
need. The fans were looking glum, but I knew we had another 45 minutes to go,
and believed the boys could do it.
The Second Half
I was praying for an improvement from the lads in the 2nd
half. My prayers were answered with-in 90 seconds. A Beast throw was flicked on
by G Man. The ball dropped for Zinedine, who turned and shot straight past
Smith, making it 2-1. It was game on!
Just as I thought our luck had changed, Carter scored a
cracking goal for Berko. Carter found some space, just inside the 18 yard box,
and his shot dipped just under the cross bar. Another great goal from Berko!
The fans spirits did not drop, and neither did the lads heads.
Mashy stepped it up, and ran with the ball through the midfield at full speed.
He played a through ball to Wig, but Wig was challenged and couldn’t get a shot
in. This was what we wanted to see. Attack, Attack, Attack! I wouldn’t have
cared if we had lost 10-1, as long as we gave it everything.
51 minutes in the match, and Louis Harper replaced Dan ‘The Viking’
Grindrod. Keep working hard Dan, and well done for winning player of the month.
55 minutes into the second half, and the Bloods were going
for it. The lads had won a corner, which was well delivered by Harper. The ball
dropped to Zinedine, but his shot was well blocked by Berko.
Zinedine came very close to making it 3-2 after meeting Wigs
zipped cross. The cross travelled at a fast pace, and I didn’t expect anyone to
get there. Zinedine did, but his should was 5 yards wide.
60 minutes in and Mashy did extremely well to send a
dangerous low cross, between the 6 yard box and the goal line. Rocky came
charging in, and tapped the ball at an angle, into the back of the net from 3
yards out. It was a brilliant reaction from the lads, and we truly believed
that we could win. Great link up play from the lads!
65 minutes into the match, and we were working very hard.
Mashy was playing like it was his last ever match. The lads were pushing the
defence and not giving up. We had time on our hands, and we looked the favourite
to win.
G Man had an incredible effort, which was well saved by
Smith. We all thought it was going to rattle the back of the net. It was a great
save from Smith to keep us all in suspense. The corner came in, and met Rocky’s
head, but his effort was just wide.
Zinedine went for a worldy, to top off his excellent scoring
record. He brought the ball down, and pushed it onto his left foot. He tried to
curl the ball into Smiths top right, but it went slightly wide.
Smith was winding up the crowd, by taking as much time as
possible in taking his goal kick. The fans started counting down, to get the
referees attention. It was not fair, and in my eyes he was cheating. I know
wasting time is a slippery tactic, but not when you have 20 minutes to go. It doesn’t
show much ambition to a side that dominated the 1st half. Eventually
the referee gave Smith a yellow card.
Nobby passed a lovely through ball to Wig. Wig played it on
his right foot, and just as he was about to shoot, the Berko defender put in a
block, which awarded the Bloods a throw in Beast territory.
The Bloods were growing frustrated with Smith as Zinedine
was being impeded, while he prepared for a corner. He pushed Smith over, and
was given a yellow card.
81 minutes into the match, and Spike Bell replaced Nobby.
Another positive performance from Nobby!
83 minutes into the match, and Croll made the save of the
match. We gave away a free kick which was just outside the area. The shot was
taken well, and Croll dived and palmed the ball against the post, and out for a
Berko throw. Croll had just given us a lifeline.
Bell pushed on up the wing, and played the ball to Harper. Harper
went for a long range effort, but it was well saved by Smith, which resulted in
a corner to the Bloods. The corner was well defended.
Wig did very well to win us a free kick near the corner
flag. Harper crossed the ball, but the wind took it, and it went over the
players and off.
The high paced action didn’t end, and Hawes was sent off for
a reckless challenge on Rocky. The Beast was not happy, and ran over to ‘politely’
tell Hawes he was out of order. I am not surprised as the tackle could have
really hurt him. The Beast was given a yellow card for his ‘handbag’ reaction.
After all the commotion called down, we had one last
opportunity with the free kick. Croll had decided to join the action, and we
were hoping for a Schmeichel special. It was our last throw of the dice……Unfortunately
we didn’t capitalise from the free kick and lost the match 3-2.
I want to thank all the players for giving it their all in
the second half. Come back efforts like that make me so proud to be a Blood. I
hope we can build on this and climb the TNPL.
My man of the match goes to Mashy Snelling. Mashy played his
heart out, and in my opinion gave his best performance of the 15/16 season. He
was gutted when he came off the pitch, as he knew we could have won. I thanked
him for giving it his all.
Well done to all the lads. We may be out of the cup, but we
showed spirit and determination.
The next first team match is on the 19th and is
away to Gorleston. So put your thermals on as its going to be chilly. The
ressies are playing at home against Wivenhoe, so get down the Catons Lane to
support Manser’s champs.
Thanks for reading
Some of the pictures are done by Jamie Pluck
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