2008-9 Season

Battling Blues cash in on bank collapse

· More pictures from the game

Financial markets will probably go into meltdown when they hear the Bank of England has been doling out yet more credit but, this time at least, the credit was well deserved.

This was an epic clawback by the ‘Chels – as the Bank boys were sporting enough to acknowledge later.

From two-nil down, we fought back to win 3-2, putting our account firmly back in the black after going into receivership at the hands of the Japanese XI and British Airways. After those sorry performances, it now looks as if the Boss is investing in a winning lineup – which is bad news for the missing Stevie B and El Tel, who may now have to resign themselves to Beckhamesque cameo appearances in future.

As for today’s game, this was no banking bail-out and BoE fought hard. But as things wore on, the ‘Chels got stronger and more confident while BoE looked a little, ahem, overdrawn. We were heavily indebted to Jamie at centerback, a clear man of the match, and to the tireless efforts of Messrs Murphy and Tom B, particularly in the second half.

We had started heavily under the cosh. BoE used the big pitch well and we spent most of the half defending, mounting only the occasional foray into their goalmouth. About 15 minutes in, they got their first. They followed that up with a superb strike that fortunately for us hit the crossbar and bounced out. There was only a brief respite before a shot from just outside our box flew straight into the top corner, leaving MK Power no chance. Two-nil.

From the bench, it was hard to know whether this was just a slump or a full-blown recession. Would our interest rate go up or down?

Fortunately, an unexpected break by Euan on the left ended with him chipping the keeper and scoring. It was totally against the run of play but it gave us the lift we badly needed. At half-time, the boss brought the talent on – myself and Tom B – and urged us to lift our game.

The second half began with us pressing down the flanks into their half and BoE’s passing looked a little less assured. We began to win corners and it was from one of these – taken by Alex – that Jamie put a fantastic bullet header past their keeper to equalise.

BoE came back strongly and MK Power pulled off a couple of fine saves as they broke through. We defended doggedly though and Jamie seemed to be winning everything. At the other end, Jake might have headed our third but narrowly missed.

And so to the 85th minute, when Tom B broke down the right and put a beautiful cross in for Alex to head home. Three-two and what a turnaround. You had to hand it to the ‘Chels, our dogged approach had paid big dividends – which is more than can be said for your average bank shares these days.

BoE were generous to the end and congratulated us on a fine win. Their excellent ref also deserves a mention.

As we basked in the warm glow of victory ale afterwards, I suggested to the Boss that Stevie B would never believe the result. He looked at me somewhat quizzically: “Stevie who?” he said.

© 2008 Kenchels FC, all rights reserved. For more information contact support@kenchels.com.