2006-7 Season
Marble Hill 2 Kenchels FC 3
Phew, what a scorcher! With thermometers popping all over West London we braved not only a late summer sizzler of a day but we also set the pitch ablaze with our skills and incinerated the Marbles. What a way to start the new season!
‘Chels kicked off playing 4-4-2 with the redoubtable Mike Power and his sidekick Stevie B at the centre of the backline. We soaked up a fair bit of pressure early on but as the game went it was the opposition’s turn to worry. Robin, John Murphy, Jake and Alex were beginning to get their rhythm and it was starting to look good.
Our first setback came when the ball bobbled between three or four players on the edge of our box, having failed to shut them down further up the pitch. The ball fell fortuitously for them and was well despatched – although Craig got pretty close to it. One-nil.
Their second goal came not long after, when what should have been an easy clearance for yours truly got nicked by the head of a Marble and sailed into the back of the net.
Helped by EP’s policy of rolling subs, we soldiered on. GB came on and EP went off. Mike Power also went off just before half-time to be replaced by Chris Newman, at which point we reverted to our normal formulation. We continued to pressure the Marbles and there was some good movement up the left and right thanks to Tom Bradbury and GB in particular.
At half-time we had everything to play for. Helped by some poor substitutions on their part, we continued to press them in the second half. We missed what seemed like a string of sitters until finally some solid hassling from Tom, EP (back on after half time) and Alex won the ball on the right side. Alex (I think) put the cross in that found Jake at the backpost to head home.
A string of chances followed with various ‘Chels – most notably Alex – hitting the ball everywhere but into the goal. It’s not often that we’re the ones whose fitness wins the game but this was definitely one of those occasions.
Marbles were increasingly rattled and started squabbling among themselves. Our pressing game gave them no time to think. About half-way through, I think, a meticulously placed Stevie B corner found Jake’s bonce once more. Two-two now and, despite 30 degrees of heat, our tails were well and truly up.
The winner came late on from a Marbles defensive muddle. We nicked the ball and broke through, the move ending with Alex closing on the keeper and with Euan square of him. And guess what? Yes, Alex played the square ball. I kid you not. Euan carefully slotted it for the winner.
Alex was fuming when the ref blew full-time just as he was (possibly) on the point of scoring. Craig rather indelicately pointed out later that he just saved the poor boy from further embarassment.
As for me, 24 hours later every bone in my body aches and my scorched bonce looks like a plum tomato. It’s great to be back, gentlemen!
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