Saffron Walden 2 – Mildenhall Town 1
6TH Feb 2016
The last time these two sides met, Mildenhall came away with
a narrow 1-0 win. I remember the match well as it rained most of the evening in
the middle of August. This time it was at windy Walden! Hurricane Harry (or
whoever) was doing his bit. Could the Bloods make it three wins in a row at the
Meadow?
I arrived at the ground just before kick-off and presented
Spike Bell with his certificate and voucher, for winning Player of the Month
for January. It was a great achievement for the loyal Bloods player, who had
been with Walden more than a decade. Thoroughly deserved, after some back to
back brilliant performances!
As I arrived at 14.50, I didn’t get much chance to see the
usual suspects. I usually like to arrive at least 30 minutes before the match
starts, so I can soak in the atmosphere and say hi to the fans, players and
staff. I’d did go and look for Fiona -
so she could take a picture of me and Spike, but she was hiding in the club
house so I had to settle with Carlos Bailey. Love you really Nigel, even though
you aimed a lot of your banter at my expense.
The Team
Croll, P Abbot
(Pabbo), Grindrod (Viking), Noble (Nobby), Fleming (Rhino), Wardley (Sticko),
Calver (Captain Wig), M Abbot (Mabbo),
Bell, Thomas (Zinedine), Harper. Subs: Murphy (Boss), Andrews, Soutar (GK) and
new Blood: Pacey (GK)
Welcome to Walden Lee Pacey.
The First Half
The Viking was the first player to start the ‘Come on Walden’
chants, as he ran at the defence and shot at goal but his effort was well
blocked and collected by Pope.
The first 10 minutes was a mix of Pope complaining at the
referee, and both teams trying to keep the ball! Sorry but it wasn’t the most
exciting starts I have seen. It was tough out there, with the wind and both teams
struggled to play at pace.
15 minutes into the match, and Wig won the Bloods a free
kick just outside the area as he was flattened by Brown. Harper played the ball
short to Zinedine who managed to turn, but his shot was not on target. Pope was
not happy with his defence and shouted ‘Too Easy’ to his team mates.
17 minutes into the match, and Super Floyd made a brilliant
save. It was great link up play between Yeoman, who crossed the ball to Cooper.
Coopers’s strike looked certain to beat any keeper, but Croll, isn’t just ‘Any Keeper’, and saved
Cooper’s effort. Sticko did well to clear the rebound out of the box.
20 minutes into the match, and it was hand bags at dawn. Yeoman
made a late challenge on Viking, which caused a bit of a face off. The referee
had no choice but to produce the yellow card and book Yoeman. He was lucky to
stay on the pitch.
Mildenhall were first to get on the score sheet, after the
Viking accidently tripped the Mildenhall forward in the penalty area. It looked
quite soft to me, but apparently it was an accidental trip. Yeoman took the
penalty and went for power. Croll dived the right way, but it went slightly
over Croll and into the back of the net.
Mildenhall pushed for a second, when Brown delivered a
dangerous cross into the box, but it was well cleared by Sticko for a
Mildenhall corner. The corner was taken by the wind and went over the top of
the goal and out.
Nobby received a yellow card for a foul on Butcher.
Wig won the Bloods a free kick near the corner flag. Harper
crossed the ball into the 6 yard box, which was punched away by the diving
Pope. Cooper then cleared the ball for a Walden throw. The throw didn’t trouble
Mildenhall.
Mildenhall won a throw 10 yard from the corner flag. They went
for a Beast style long throw, but Nobby jumped well and flicked the ball away
from the box. Enaro picked up the loose ball and passed it to Green, who hung
near the 6 yard box. Green tried to turn and hit the ball on the volley, but
his shot went over the bar.
Mabbo conceded a free kick outside the box. Mildenhall tried
to test Croll with a long range effort, but it was well collected by the Bloods
number 1.
35 minutes into the match, and Bell stepped up and ran with
the ball up the wing, and won us a throw on 10 yard from the corner flag.
Unfortunately nothing came from the throw.
At the time the fans were asking about the cricket score. I
asked where England was playing. Nigel reacted as if I asked him what colour
the sky was! I then told him I was too young to watch cricket. The fans replied
with a lot of ‘oooohhhs’ and laughs. Round 1 to Scripps!
40 minutes in and the dangerous Enaro broke well from a
Bloods throw. He played a through ball to Brown, who was running up the wing.
Pabbo reacted quickly and slid in to clear the danger.
Our last effort came from a great run into the box by
Zinedine, but the ball was scooped clear from the Mildenhall’s penalty spot.
HT Saffron Walden 0 – Mildenhall Town 1
I must admit, I really was not feeling it today. Sounds
negative, but I think it was the rushing to make it for kick off and not having
time to settle. I even had a beer and a portion of chips, which were badly
needed.
The Second Half
So after a bit of a moan, I told myself that it was only 1-0
and we can do this. So, with my new found confidence I got behind the goal, and
cheered the boys on.
2 minutes into the game and Wig won us a free kick for the
Viking to take. This was after a great run by Bell. Viking delivered the ball
to the back post, which only just missed Rhino. It was a great effort and what
the fans wanted to see from there team. The Bloods started to ask questions of
the Mildenhall defenders.
As I listen back to my recording, all I can hear is the wind.
It was very tough conditions and any ball in the air was difficult to manage.
Mildenell won a corner, but it was well defended by Sticko.
Sticko found Zinedine run, but it was slightly too far inform of him and Pope
smashed the ball clear.
Wig won a throw on which was played quickly to the Viking.
Viking tried to set Zinedine with a cross, but it was too powerful to control
and went off for a goal kick.
Sticko was up to his usual tricks again and went ghosting into
the box. He managed to get his head to a great cross from Bell, but his effort
went over the bar. The Bloods were certainly knocking on the door.
61 minutes into the match, and Harper was replaced by Joe ‘The
Boss’ Murphy. Well done again Harper.
66 minutes into the match and Mildenhall won a corner. It
was starting to get cold, and the wind was getting more aggressive. Cooper took
the corner and went short to Asensi. Asensi tried to set Simpson. Simpson could
shoot so passed it to Cooper but Bell blocked Coopers’s effort and Rhino cleared
the danger.
Enaro had a decent effort on target but Croll got down well
and kept hold of the ball.
Zinedine made a great break, and passed the ball to Mabbo.
Mabbo threaded the ball to Bell, who was charging up the wing and won the
Bloods a throw on. The throw was delivered into the box and it looked like
Zinedine was shoved, but no penalty given. The Bloods had to settle with
another throw on. The boys worked extremely hard to get back into the match.
72 minutes into the match, and all that hard work paid off
after Zinedine was fouled by Butcher in the box, after getting goal side chasing
a through ball. The home fans were chanting ‘Off Off!’ as Zinedine was the last
man and Butcher was already on a yellow – rules are rules. The referee awarded
the Bloods a penalty and sent Butcher off for an early shower. Mabbo stepped up
and after about the 3rd attempt of keeping the ball still on the
spot, he sent Pope the wrong way and calmly slotted the ball into the right
hand corner. It was 1-1 and plenty to cheer about.
82 minutes into the match, and the Viking had struck the
back of the net with a brilliant goal. He made a 50 yard charge at the defence,
passed the ball to Zinedine who flicked it over the defence onto the charging
head of the Viking, and he flicked it into the back on the net. It was magical
and a goal that Vardy would have been proud off.
Forget Hurricane Harry - now meet Hurricane Grindrod! – Now that’s
a headline!
85 minutes into the match and Mildenhall had a free kick.
The Walden fans held their breath as they watch the striker’s effort go well wide.
Walden played the next 5 minutes with confidence and pushed
for a third goal. As the minutes ticked down, Wig and Zinedine worked hard
keeping the ball in the corner flag. The Mildenhall players were getting frustrated
as they struggles to get the ball back. We shouted at the referee to blow the
whistle with every Walden pass.
The final whistle went and we had beaten 5th
place Mildenhall. What a brilliant second half performance and the boys never
gave up.
FT: Saffron Walden 2 – Mildenhall Town 1
MOTM was very close in the end, but after speaking to the
fans the majority agreed with me and this week’s MOTM goes to Dan ‘The Viking’ Grindrod.
Well done Dan. Great work throughout and was rewarded with the match winner.
Next week Walden play Thetford down, who are fighting for survival.
It will be a difficult match but I am sure the lads can get all 3 points.
Thanks for reading
#hurricanegrindrod
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