2005-6 Season
Brentham 2 Kenchels FC 2
Brentham! There’s something about that name that makes the very best of ‘Chels tremble with apprehension. As I took up my position on the bench, talent dripping off me in the pale spring sunshine, I knew it was only a matter of time before the boss called me on.
Sure enough, 20 minutes in and with the ‘Chels one goal down already, the call did indeed come – from the opposition manager! Their centre forward had done his ankle in and they had no sub. “Can you play centre forward, mate ?,” he asked. Can I play centre forward indeed! I can’t even play right-back. My mumbled protests were to no avail however and before I knew it, I was marauding up and down the ‘Chels’ half like a hungry tiger (albeit a slightly overweight one).
I steered clear of Wayne obviously, remembering the infamous ‘Neil’s head is a football’ episode a couple of years back when one of our own made the mistake of playing for an opposing side and ended up colliding with Wayne’s footwear. So I trawled the right where Terry Bellamio tracked me up and down, backwards and sideways. It was a clash of titans indeed – bit like those old Ray Harryhausen movies where the model dinosaurs fight each other. At times it seemed like everything was moving in slow motion – and indeed it was, especially when Terry tried to turn me and I tried to turn him. Oil tankers r us!
And then suddenly, a gust of wind, a break in the clouds and the sun streamed down upon a wide open space on the edge of the ‘Chels box. Was this divine intervention? I picked up the ball on the halfway line…ran towards the space…could see the goal gaping wide and pulled my right peg back to blast a shot that would live forever in the annals of Kenchels history – DOT PUTS BRENTHAM TWO UP!
Sadly, dear reader, t’was not to be. My carefully aimed shot pinged off my foot at an angle of 45 degrees, flew across the face of the goal where it was collected by Brentham’s left winger and slotted calmly past a flailing Scott (who incidentally played brilliantly throughout). So much for divine intervention.
So at halftime, the ‘Chels found themselves two down. It had been a poor half for them. The defence had looked uncertain and the passing in midfield was shakey. Brentham’s wounded forward came back on for the second half and I found myself in my more traditional right back berth wearing a ‘Chels shirt.
We started the second half brightly and there was some really nice football played with Euan, John Murphy and EP running Brentham ragged. They found themselves under the cosh now and their forays forward were generally less productive – although we still conceded about four or five corners which gave us some tricky moments.
About 15 minutes from the end, John Murphy went racing through on the left and, at full stretch, knocked a lovely equaliser past their keeper. Superbo! We really could have won it now but sadly it wasn’t to be.
Anyway, I should just point out that in the first half (without me in a ‘Chels shirt) we conceded two goals. In the second half, with me in a ‘Chels shirt, we conceded none. Nuff said, I think so.
Discussion
No comments for “Brentham 2 Kenchels FC 2”
Post a comment