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There are two
match reports for this week - the first from Captain Danny Becker...and
the second from Paul Brady...
Danny Becker's
Captain's Report...
After impressive wins against Welwyn 5's and Stevenage 4's over the past
couple of weeks, Blueharts 5 XI were the visitors to Dame Alice Owen on
Saturday.
Things were not looking good for PB when Danny "Captain for the Day"
Becker was only told of his elevation a couple of minutes before the scheduled
start as he could only see 9 other PB players and no Umpire! Still to
someone adept at causing delay wherever possible in day to day life, managing
to buy the team 10 minutes leeway in the start time didn't present too
many problems!
By the time pushback took place, PB had a full complement of 11, Richard
Atkins arriving just in time, on the field and Adam Reader kindly offered
to Umpire for the first quarter of the game.
An even start to the game saw both teams setting out their stalls early.
It was clear that Blueharts had good technical skills, whilst PB were
intent on playing with a passion and desire for which they are becoming
increasingly well known.
For the opening period, PB absorbed plenty of pressure from the visitors,
but with Spencer Hunt, Richard Atkins, Chris Edwards, Cliff Hawkins and
Terry Mabbett all holding firm, Blueharts were reduced to overplaying
and constantly trying to build form deep which saw them struggling to
get through our midfield, let alone genuinely attack our D.
Midway through the first half a slick passing move from back to front,
via Cliff and plenty of others saw the ball played into the stick of Andy
Latham just outside the Blueharts D. A quick flick past the defender and
Andy was clear to roll the ball past the advancing keeper in good style.
1 - 0 to PB, slightly against the run of play.
PB now found renewed confidence and Liam Frame, Paul Brady and Owen Hughes
in particular found time and space to cause Blueharts problems, and the
introduction of Adam Reader, replaced by Shag as umpire for the remainder
of the half helped shore up the midfield further.
Shortly before the break however a Blueharts attack saw the ball played
into our D and the harsh award of the first short corner of the game.
The routine from the visitors was somewhat unrefined, but as so often
happens the ball broke free and Alan Field was picking the ball out of
the back of the net after being beaten by a flick that gave him no chance.
1-1 at half time was probably a fair reflection of the half, although
PB were rightly disappointed not to be ahead.
A change of ends saw a change of attitude from PB and we really came out
firing. Early pressure on the Blueharts defence started to wear them down
and they rapidly became devoid of idea. Their playmaker in midfield was
marked out of the game by Paul who got through an enormous amount of work
and this allowed Owen, Liam and Andy to get stuck in to the opposition.
With Danny and Adam using their experience to put a strangle hold on the
middle of the field, PB's defence was comfortable with anything that Blueharts
could muster.
Eventually weight of pressure succeeded and a short corner was awarded
to PB. A drag flick out from Spencer saw Andy control the ball and do
what he does best as his first time shot whistled past the defence and
keeper to smack into the top of the backboard. 2-1 and Bar well on top.
From regaining the lead, Bar were never seriously challenged and for the
last 20 minutes dominated the game. Only Owen and Paul will possibly know
how they combined to hit the post and miss the target with an open goal
gaping at their mercy to put the result beyond doubt. However it wasn't
to be and with the last play of the game a Blueharts attacker found room
in our D and forced a short corner. With the final whistle blown, our
defence needed to produce something special being outnumbered 2 to 1.
They did exactly that, repelled the danger and ensured that our 100% record
remains intact.
I cannot remember ever playing in a game when the other members of my
team have played with such determination, commitment and team spirit.
The talent of Blueharts was no match for our desire and we were worthy
winners. Make no mistake though, Blueharts have the personnel to be an
excellent team and the return match in the New Year will be no pushover.
Thanks to Cliff,
Chris and Adam for all taking a stint with the whistle and to Jo and Paul
for the pasta bake that I am told was excellent.
Paul Brady
writes...
The
PBHC winning run continues! There is no room for complacency though as
the games are definitely getting harder. This one was the toughest so
far this season, against a Blueharts side whose league position doesn't
do justice to the team's skills and capabilities. However, PBHC came out
on top in a hard fought close, contested game winning eventually 2-1.
In what is becoming customary form, the start of the match was postponed
by the maximum of 15 minutes whilst the last PBHC players finally found
the way to their home ground. With Richard West away re-living college
days PBHC were without their usual umpire and so it fell to Chris Edwards
and Adam Reader to umpire the first half and Cliff Hawkins the second
half. Thanks to all of them for their work, though each seemed to make
enough deliberate errors so as not to be asked to do it again.
The first half started brightly with both sides getting the measure of
each other and snubbing out each others attacks with some good marking.
After recognizing "Shoulders" the scorer of Blueharts' goals
in the previous game before the start we knew which man to mark. The Blueharts
mid field were frighteningly youthful and well skilled and it took the
PBHC midfield all their energy to keep up with them. Then, after around
20 minutes and somewhat against the run of play, Brady picked up a loose
ball in the centre of the pitch and, for once, the defender who had been
sticking to Andy Latham like glue left him to go in for the tackle. This
gave the opportunity for the pass to an unmarked Latham which he quickly
gathered and struck under the keepers body for a 1-0 lead. Bar were then
much on the ascendancy for the remainder of the first half until with
two minutes to go Blueharts were awarded the first short corner of the
game. After the initial hit-out was not controlled but mis-hit back into
the D, a second Blueharts forward picked up the ball and managed to slip
it past our mid field to bring the 1-1 equalizer. So, it was 1-1 at half
time.
With rousing team talks from various players who thought they were the
captain at half time and including the actual captain, Danny Becker, Bar
came out firing on all cylinders in the second half and a particularly
energetic effort from the mid field, and particularly of Danny Becker
and Liam Frame, all but cut out all of Blueharts attacking options in
the second half. With 15 minutes to go Bar won a short corner, their first
one of the game, and in the usual precise routine the whipped out pass
from Spencer was stopped by Latham and then dispatched into the bottom
right corner of the goal inches beneath the top of the back board.
As the second half went on and Bar were in the ascendancy, Chris Edwards
was regularly being tackled from his left by a particularly persistent
and naively enthiusiastic Blueharts midfielder. Unfortunately for him,
the Blueharts midfielder then found out why tackling from the wrong side
is not advisable when Edwards's stick hit him square on the nose and he
had to retire injured after losing half a pint of blood on the pristine
astro pitch.
Bar continued to press for further goals with many close chances (including
some on the run, that a younger Adam Reader would have scored) until with
5 minutes to go and Latham, Owen and Brady running in on goal Latham selflessly
passed the ball sideways to Owen. This caught the latter completely by
surprise such that when faced with the open goal he managed to hit only
the right hand post. The rebounding shot fell nicely for Brady who then
contrived to miss the gaping open goal from only two yards out. Blueharts
umpire then signalled 2 minutes to go. Around 8 minutes later Blueharts
were pressing down their left wing and eventually managed to get a short
corner. With the final whistle blown only seconds after the short corner
was awarded the short corner was going to be a last action of the game
and after 2 out of 2 of the previous short corners in the match having
been scored the Bar back line faced a cliff hanging final minute. When
the short was taken, a rapid run out by the advancing defenders prevented
Blueharts getting the shot in and the final whistle was blown.
After an extremely tightly fought contest Bar came out on top
Team: Alan Field, Adam Reader, Terry Mabbett, Richard Atkins, Cliff Hawkins,
Spencer Hunt, Danny Becker (Capt), Chris Edwards, Paul Brady, Liam Frame,
Owen Hughes, Andy Latham
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