Match Report
The euphoria of successive score draws was muted by an abject first half hour, which very nearly spoiled this game, but a second half fightback turned it into quite a tussle. Referee Barry arrived 25 minutes late, which was enough to bamboozle the skipper into playing into the gale having won the toss. This turned out to be a bad move for him and the team.
The opening exchanges proved the Vets to be off their game, not competing at the normal level, barely winning a challenge and not winning a single header. St Mary’s took an early and deserved lead. The Vets were just about hanging onto the game when a hopeful cross caught the wind. There was an inevitability to the result of what happened next, although it seemed more likely that the goalie would miss it altogether rather than palm it into the net. He went for the second option. Slack defending led to a third, which at least shook the Vets into action. The ten minutes before half time showed great improvement, though even then it seemed like too little too late.
Rush, Bibby and Killen were introduced at half time and invigorated proceedings. Sadly, though, defensive frailty led to a fourth for the hosts. That early second half goal really did lead to a revival, McGuckin surging through to make it 4-1 and Mornington slotting a neat free kick to make it 4-2. Bibby nearly made it 4-3, corners were won but not capitalised on, shots hit bit missed, dreams dreamt but shattered. The Vets just ran out of time.
Captaincy errors, like buses, come in threes. The goading of the Chairman led to the introduction of black boots. It didn’t work. Back to green next week, please.