Saffron Walden 1 – Walsham Le Willows 0
The Meadow
26th March 2016
After last week’s narrow defeat, the Bloods were back to
winning ways. It was a hard slog, with difficult conditions but the lads
battled hard a deserved all three points. Sticko finally took a well-deserved
break and ran things from the bench. The fans got to see for the first time the
partnership between Fagin and Rhino, and the lads did not disappoint.
As I was writing out the team sheet, I was told that today’s
referee was the best in the league. I am not sure how you measure that, but
after the poor decisions we have had in the past I was intrigued.
I then had a great chat with Mark Young about the 100k walk
he is doing for Charity. He was on a bus to Cambridge at 6.30am, so he could
walk back in time for the 3pm kick off. Now that’s dedication to the cause and
the club! I also asked him how many days he would do doing the walk over;
expecting him to camp overnight or in a B&B. He told me that no one stops
to sleep and they walk through the night. He is raising money for Help for
Heroes, so if you have not yet sponsored him, please do.
Click on his link. He is also doing a bucket collection at
one of the home matched nearer the end of the season https://www.justgiving.com/markyoung1611
The Team
Pacey, Bell, P Abbott
(Pabbo),Snelling (Mashy), Moody (Fagin), Fleming (Rhino), Calver ( C )(Wig), M
Abbott (Mabbo), Turner (G Man), Thomas (Zinedine), Noble (Nobby). Subs: Drane, Dicker (Chaz), Scott, Wardley
(Sticko).
The First Half
The Bloods won an early free kick, which Mabbo took. Mabbo
sailed the ball into the pack of players, but it was comfortably collected by Bryant.
WLW’s Wood had a decent effort, but his shot was blocked for
a WLW corner. Call delivered a good ball into the box, but Rhino headed the
ball clear and out of the area.
After a two match Wig didn’t show and pitch rust and won the
Bloods a corner. The corner was taken by Bell, who tried to find Rhino, but it
was well defended by WLW.
6 minutes into the match, and Zinedine scored a lovely goal.
Mabbo crossed the ball into the box, which was brought down by G Man. G Man
spotted Zinedine’s run and flicked the ball into his path and Zinedine calmly lifted
the ball over the keeper, from a tight angle, and into the back of the net. It
was 1-0 to the mighty Bloods.
Pacey made a fantastic save from Woods’s header. Barwick
whipped in the cross for Wood to test Pacey, but Pacey dived across his goal
and caught the ball.
11 minutes in and WLW started to gain possession and added
pressure on the Bloods. Peter put in a dangerous cross but it was well caught
buy Pacey.
Zinedine did very well at closing the defence down, as
Morton had no choice but to pass the ball back to Bryant. Zinedine ran at
Bryant and Bryant had to react quickly and only just kicked the ball off for a
throw-in, before Zinedine got to the ball.
As we were pushing for a second goal, Malcolm Nash came
along and asked Fiona to call Andrew in the tea hut, because the referee wanted
a coffee at half time. The ref will want paying next! I told Malc to get the
finest china out and nip to Starbucks.
Anyway, back to the match and G Man won the Bloods a corner
for Bell to take. The ball was headed up in the air between 5 players, but was
eventually scooped away by 5. Clarke was congratulated by Bryant which was
picked up by the fans, so in true ‘behind the goal’ fashion we would cheer on
Clarke (Nath) with every touch he made. So much nicer than aggression and bad
language! Even if it was ‘tongue in cheek’ banter! Nath should be honoured.
22 minutes into the match and Bell did very well to stick to
the quick feet of Call. Just before Call was about to pull the trigger, Bell
got the better of him and cleared the ball away from the box for a throw-in.
30 minutes into the match, and Wig was involved in a little
bit of ‘handbags at dawn’ moment with Steed, as both players competitive attitude
got in the way. It looked like both players pulled each other to the ground.
The referee managed the situation well and got the lads to shake hands with no
cards.
33 minutes into the match, and
the lino made a shocking decision. G Man was running up the line with Peter in
tow, when Peter fell to the ground. The lino waved his flag and awarded a WLW a
free kick. G Man didn’t touch him! It was disappointing as all the officials
were having a very good game.
WLW added some pressure after
winning a free kick on the half way line. The free kick was delivered into the
box, but Fagin rose well and headed the ball out for a corner. WLW were gifted
a free header but the effort went wide.
41 minutes into the match and WLW
won a free kick. It was delivered by Nurse into the box, but the referee
sported the high boot in Rhinos face and gave the Bloods a free kick.
HT Saffron Walden 1 – WLW 0
The Second Half
The Bloods came out of the blocks
looking for the second goal. Pabbo started to come forward and did very well to
win two back to back throw-ins. I had also noticed that Zinedine was now
playing out on the right and Wig was in a CF position.
It was ‘hearts in the mouth time’
for the Bloods fans, after Peter broke and delivered an excellent long ball.
The build-up play was great and WLW should have made it 1-0, but Bell slid in
and cleared the ball off the line. It was the save of the day.
WLW was given another opportunity
from a header at the far past, but the WLW players effort went over the bar.
G Man made a lovely run up the
wing and fended of three defenders. He played the ball to Mash, who was
charging into the box. Mash tried to flick the ball over Bryant, but Bryant
made himself big, and caught the ball before it went over his head and
potentially in the net.
Soon after, G Man continued to
use his strength and pace up the wing. He left Peter on the ground and ran into
the box, but our mate Nath put in a great block for a Bloods corner. Bells
corner was aimed at the back post, but Barwick cleared the ball out of the
area.
53 minutes into match, and Wig showed
off his silky skills in the area, and won the Bloods a corner. Peter got to the
ball first and cleared the danger.
58 minutes into the match and
Clarke (Nath), had a rush of Blood and took Wigs legs out from a challenge from
behind. The referee did waste any time showing Nath a red. There was a little
bit of afters as a few players got involved in some pushing and shoving. Mabbo
was booked for this. We now needed a new WLW player to cheer on. So we decided
to cheer on Josh (Curry) and Sam (Peter). Sorry lads and it was all in good
jest.
Wig had a good effort, when he
won the ball back from WLW. He tried to find the top left hand corner but it
was collected by Bryant.
66 minutes into the match, and
the Bloods won a free kick. The free kick was delivered by Mabbo and Rhino came
close with a header, but it was just wide.
Josh (Curry) conceded another
free kick as he tripped Mashy near the Walden dug out….”Oh Josh, what did you do that for?” the crowd jest (or something
like that). Bell crossed the ball, but it was easily dealt with by the WLW
defence.
70 minutes into the match, and G
Man won the Bloods another corner as he continued to battle with our other mate
Sam, down the wing. Bell took the corner which dropped for Rhino. Rhino played
the ball back to Mash, who went for a blast, but WLW did very well to keep
formation and block the shot. The ball then fell to Wig, and Wig crossed the ball
to Bryant’s far post. Zinedine got his head to the ball, but it missed the goal
by inches.
72 minutes into the match, and
Wig had a good opportunity of making it 2-0. The Bloods won the ball back in
the WLW half. Wig got into a good shooting position from 18 yards out and went
for the shot, but it was straight at Bryant.
75 minutes into the
match and Mabbo was replaced by Max Drane. Well done Mabbo. Another strong,
solid performance!
WLW continued to work hard with
only ten men and believed they could get something out of the game. There was a
moment from a throw on where the fans could see a potential scrappy tap in, but
Fagin did well to clear the ball out.
80 minutes into the match, and G
Man was replaced by Charlie Dicker (Chaz). Well played G Man and good to have
you back terrorising those left backs.
At this point the rain and wind
got stronger, so we all moved back to the container units. Half of the crowd
who stand by the club house joined us.
82 minutes into the match and I
was feeling nervous. WLW won a free kick. The free kick was aimed for the back
post, but went over everyone and out of play.
With only a few minutes left on
the clock, Rhino was involved in a tussle with Call. Call ended up winning the
free kick. Personal I didn’t see much in it. The fans started to look at each
other with nervous smiles. Surely we could hold on to this lead! Sam took the
fee kick and it was headed out by Mash, but only as far as Barwick. Barwick
crossed the ball back into the box, but Zinedine did well to usher the ball out
for a goal kick.
90 minutes into the match and
Chaz battled hard and won the ball from…you quest it. It was fan-favourite Josh.
He managed to play the ball forward and cross it into the box, but it was well
defended. The crowd really get behind our young Blood who has recently broken
into the first team, but continues to play with the U18s. A great little
prospect!
Panic struck in the dying minutes
of the match when WLW were awarded a free kick for Nurse to take. The free kick
was headed out for a corner. You can hear my voice getting higher on the Dictaphone!
The lads didn’t panic and defended the corner well. As the ball was cleared the
referee blew the final whistle.
What an incredible battle from
the lads, which has taken us to 42 points and sitting comfortably in mid table.
After looking at the league table I believe the best we can finish is 7th.
There is a 10 point gap between 6th and 7th place. I
would be over the moon if we finished in the top half as I truly believe we can
improve and potentially be top 5 next year and maybe top 3 and title contenders
in the 2018/19 season.
I have also got to hand it to
WLW. They never gave up and could have folded after going down to ten men, but
they stuck at it and could have nicked a result. Full credit to defence and
keeper!
The MOTM goes to Ryan ‘Rhino’ Fleming. He worked extremely
hard and put in some great challenges. Flemo is very dynamic and can play in
three or four different positions. A great asset for Sticko’s team! Well done
Rhino and thanks for your hard work.
I have also chosen Stuart Wardley as my player of the
month for March. Since the Beast left, Sticko has played almost every minute of
every game. His work rate has been brilliant and I believe he thoroughly deserves
the praise. Well done Sticko. Sticko will get a £25 Amazon voucher and a
certificate which I will present at the next home game.
The Ressies made it back to back
wins with a 3-1 away win at Wivenhoe Town. Scorers: Morrell, Game and Carter.
Well done Lads. The Ressies are back at home next Saturday against
Brightlingsea.
The first team are on the road
and travel to face 4th place Felixstowe and Walton. This will be a
great test for the Bloods.
Thanks for reading
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