Saffron Walden 2 Vs. Felixstowe and Walton 3
22nd August 2015
2pm and I was watching the lads warm up. It was 28 degrees
and I had my new personalised training top on. The first thing I thought was,
rather them than me. I’ll stick to my cold lemonade, thanks. The fans were
still buzzing from our midweek cup win. I spoke to last week’s hero Sam Soutar
and he still had a big smile on his face. As always it was great to catch up
with the fans who could not make Tuesdays match.
Wardely had made a few changes from Tuesday’s winning team.
Croll was back between the posts. Defence: P Abbott, Reid, Lawrence (Beast) and
Grinrod. Midfield: Bell, Murphy (Boss), Snelling (Mashy) and Noble. Forwards:
Calver (Wiggy) and Gregory. Subs: Drane, Turner, Wardley (Sticksy) and Soutar.
We had Solkhon, Fleming, Harper and M Abbott missing.
I missed the first few minutes, as I was battling with the
breeze, and tying the flag to the railings. I was half expecting to get smacked
in the face with the ball. Well at least that would have given the fans
something to laugh about.
In the first 5 minutes Felixstowe and Walton (F & W)
started well. They are a team of solid looking players, who will be competing
for a top 4 finish.
In the first 5 minutes we had a corner, which was handled
well by the defence. Spike got the crowd going early with some great skill through
the middle, and managed to get his shot away, which was comfortably collected
by the keeper.
6 minutes in and Mashy looked threatening by linking up very
well with Wiggy. Wiggy set Joe ‘The Boss’ Murphy, who shot to the keeper’s
right, but was saved. If the shot had a better connection, the Keeper would
have been picking it out of the back of the net.
The Bloods did come under early pressure, but Wiggy made an
excellent challenge in the box and managed to break free. He was tripped by number
2 Bennet, and won Walden a free kick.
Shortly after, Sam Gregory made another great run, but again
was tripped before he could shoot. Referee did blow up for another free kick,
but F and W defended well. At this point in the match it was any one’s game.
F and W number 7 Sckall, was a right handful and made a
great pass to number 4 Kerridge. Sckarr was quick and great on the ball. Mashy made
a good challenge and The Beast cleared. This was the first time we could see
how dangerous F and W could be.
15 minutes in and the pressure was mounting up. F and W had
a free kick, but the Boss cleared the danger with a powerful header.
Spike continued to battle on the wing with a great run. His
pass found Sam Gregory. Sam just could not get his shot away. Full credit goes
to F and W number 3 Ainsley, for his well-timed tackle.
Shortly after, we went 1 -0 down as a result of some
brilliant play by F & W. Bennet was extremely quick and managed to get
passed Grinrod. He made an excellent pass back to Sckarr, and his strike was
perfect leaving Croll no chance. Out of respect we applauded the visitors.
The Bloods responded well from going 1-0 down. Wiggy and
Gregory continued to haunt the defence but just couldn’t find that killer shot.
Bennet again stuck to Wiggy like glue, and marked him well. Not many right
backs can do that, so it was a great battle between them.
20 minutes in and up steps the Beast for a throw on. Joe Murphy
leaped well but his header was over the bar.
More pressure followed and Spike put in a great tackle to
win the ball. He picked the ball up and made a brilliant run up the line. He
got his cross in but the keeper held the ball well.
32 minutes in and Grinrod managed to get forward. He showed
some great skill and passed the ball to Mashy. Mashy made the defenders sweat
and won Walden a throw on. The Beast took it but it resulted in a goal kick.
Shortly after the goal kick the referee stopped the match
for a water break. It was very hot, and ‘we’ were just standing behind the
goal. The players did not look tired and soon got the game going again. If I had
of been playing I would of passed out 3 minutes into the first half. You can
tell that the management team have worked hard on the fitness levels.
Just when we hoped we would get back into the game, F and W
strike again. The goal was very well done.
They played a long ball, which was flicked on by a header. The forward
took the ball in his stride, and smashed the ball into the back of the net.
Again Croll had no chance. I am sorry I do not know who scored, as it happened
so quickly. I have to admit I was disappointed, as we were undone by quick and
precise play. Sorry lads.
We responded just how the fans wanted. Wiggy took on Bennet
and got the better of him. He tripped up but got straight back up. His shot
just was not strong enough to trouble the keeper.
This was a battle of skill and pace. Bennet looked
threatening going forward, and gave Grinrod a hard time. I think Usain Bolt
would have struggled to keep up.
Mashy showed some great play, and worked really well coming forward.
He passed the ball to Gregory. Sam showed of his pace and beat the defender. He
got a strong cross in, and again the keeper caught the ball. It was well held
as Sam didn’t hold back on his cross.
We continued to try and snatch a goal back and showed some
great skill going forward, but just could not get a clear shot on goal. The first half finished Saffron Walden 0 – F and
W 2. It felt like a long walk back to the tea hut.
The Bloods were down but not out. Wardley work your magic
please!
I had to take a quick break for breakfast before starting
the blog for the 2nd half. I needed to get some energy, for the next
1000 or so words. They always say football is a game of 2 halves, and the
Bloods sure proved that.
There was no shade from behind the goal. The sun was beating
down and we were hot. God knows how the players must of felt.
So we were off and ready for the 2nd half with
Wiggy getting the better of Bennet, but couldn’t get his shot away. Sckarr
broke well and ran at Grinrod, this time Grinrod was too good for him, and his
slide tackle was perfect. The ball went for a corner, which was well handled by
Reid.
5 minutes in we started to string some excellent passes. Wiggy
held the ball well and beat his man. His forward pass to Spike was great. Spike
found some space and had a shot, but it was too close to the keeper. This was
much better from Walden.
The 50/50 was called and I wasn’t really listening. I asked
Colin what the number was and realised I had won £83. What a result! Thank you
very much. I missed about 5 minutes collecting my prize. I bought Malcolm a
drink for his troubles.
Back to the match and we looked good. The passing was better
and we started to attack the box more. Wiggy and Gregory looked sharp which
gave Spike, Noble and Mashy time to join in with the attack. We just needed
that final ball into the box to latch onto.
Turner was introduced to the game for Grinrod to provide more
fire power. Grinrod played well. I didn’t realise he was a left back. Usually
he is much further forward, where I think he plays his best football.
13 minutes in and we looked in control. F and W had not had
a shot on goal.
15ish minute in and we had a free kick into our own half. We
took the ball quickly and found Wiggy in space, who ended up one on one with
the keeper. The referee brought the play back because he was not ready, and a
player was still down. As you can imagine the fans had a pop at the referee.
More skills by Mashy who gave a lovely pass to Gregory in
the box. Gregory chested down well but the defender got across him, just before
he was about to take his shot. The ball was played to the right back, and
Gregory tried to get ball back, but got booked for a shoulder barge. It may
have been a strong challenge but it was never a yellow card.
You could tell the F and W defence where getting rattled.
Wiggy played well and was awarded a penalty. Unfortunately for Wig, the keeper
guessed the right was and saved the ball.
All was not doom and gloom, as the saved penalty resulted in
a throw on. The crowd were getting right behind the Bloods, and called for the
Beast. The Beast launched his throw into the mixer. Murphy got the better of
the centre back and in true ‘Boss Man’ fashion, beat the keeper with a fine
header. 2-1. Come on you bloods. Noble took a knock as the goal went in but was
soon on his feet after some treatment from the magic sponge.
At this point I had to move back to the shade as the sun was
far too hot. We had a line of fans standing with their backs near the cabins, to
try and get the few inches of shade. We now had a life line. Mrs Nash needed
that cold flannel again!
F and W put the pressure back on and had some good chance.
There best effort of the half, Croll carried the ball up and over the bar for a
corner.
Once we got back in the game the Beast pushed forward. He
took a throw on, which was headed back to him. He got a cross in and I thought
Gregory was going to try a bicycle kick. Sckarr, who was F and W’s best player
in the first half broke, but Noble ‘Nobby’ ran with him and produced a very
important challenge to win the ball.
F and W pushed on to try and kill the game off with a corner
which was confidently caught by Croll.
More crosses game in and Mashy cleared well with a header. Another
corner to F and W, but Croll made another brave catch, giving the forwards no
chance.
We got back into the game again and Sam had a very good effort
which went wide of the post.
75 minutes in and pressure by Walden was mounting. Beast had
another great throw on which Mashy got his foot on, but was blocked by the
defence. F and W started to park the bus. It was time for another water break.
80 minutes in and Turner showed some first class skill. He
ran up the wing, and played the ball around the defender to run onto. He held
the ball up, and waited for Wig to get into the box. The cross was perfect and
Wig chested it down, and smashed it in the back of the net, to make it 2-2.
This is why I love non-league football.
F and W pushed for a winner but the defence didn’t take any
chances and cleared the ball well.
Veteran Sticksy, came on with about 5 minutes from time and
replaced Gregory. Yet another very good game from Gregory. Sam, your first league
goal is coming.
Sticksy played up front, and you could tell this worried the
defenders. Wig and Turner worked well again, and Graeme sent in a cross for
Sticksy, but it was just too high.
Drane was introduced to the match for Mashy. Mashy had a
great game and looked threatening.
Damn, Damn, Damn!! Just as I thought we could win, or at
least get a draw, F and W won a soft penalty. If you could hear the tone of my
voice on the Dictaphone, you would have thought the world had ended. The
penalty was taken well and we were now losing 3-2.
We didn’t give up, and continued to battle and Sticksy came
close with a very good header, which floated over the bar.
After a very frustrating last 5 minutes, F and W used there experience
and slowed the play down. A few of their players hit the deck more time the
Drogba did against Barcelona, in the semi-final of the Champions League Cup.
You have to hand it to them they knew what they were doing.
The match ended up Bloods 2 – Felixstowe and Walton 3.
Personally I could not have asked more of the players in the 2nd
half. We were undone by 2 brilliant goals in the first half. The fight back was
almost a fairy tale ending. Well done lads for not giving up in tough
conditions. We will be back!
Fans Man of the Match was difficult. A lot of the lads did
well. I had to base it on the full 90 minutes and not just the first half. So
the fans man of the match goes to Joe ‘The Boss’ Murphy. Mashy you came a very
close 2nd but Joe’s goal just tipped it for me.
Next up we visit Mildenhall on Tuesday 25th. Keep
on working hard lads and we shall get that win.
#nevergaveup
Thanks for reading.
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