Match Report
After the disappointment of defeat in the Friendship Cup fixture a few weeks ago, the Vets ventured over the water to West Kirby. The fixture was billed as an ‘over 45s’ and there were a number of changes to the home team’s line up. The Ramblers approach was a little looser, Moggsy and Harthan were called up, the latter one of very few members of Bagpuss’s squad not to fit the over 45s category (albeit it is getting close).
On a heavy and uneven surface Ramblers started the brighter but it was clearly not going to be easy against West Kirby who are invariably well organised and competitive. The opening goal came the Ramblers way and it was a fantastic team goal. Cole, with his first goal for the Ramblers, finished with clinical precision a passing move which had started from the defence.
Not long afterwards Clay was able to shrug off over zealous attempts to wrestle him to the ground as he went past his marker and pinged it past the goalie. Whether the referee played a wise advantage or just wasn’t going to give the penalty we shall never know.
However, West Kirby do not lie down, and just before half time they got a corner. West Kirby won the header which Power tipped onto the bar – let’s say it was a good save rather than reflect on the fact that it failed to divert the ball away from danger – the heads went up off the rebound and somehow it ended up in the Ramblers goal, possibly even off a Ramblers head.
The teams turned round at 2-1, the feeling in the Ramblers camp was that it could have been much better and that we needed the next goal. The goal came early in the half, Harthan was felled just outside the penalty area (I can’t recall what I was doing up there) and Mornington placed a perfect free kick with power and flight giving the West Kirby keeper no chance. The Ramblers missed a fair few chances, their keeper pulled off some great saves, but to be fair to West Kirby they kept at it and had one or two decent chances themselves. One might say they were assisted with some generous refereeing decisions, Ramblers defenders failing to move out of the way to allow their number 9 to pass on a couple of occasions, but it is not the habit of Ramblers match reports to whinge.
The game was finally put to bed with about 10 minutes left, somebody (Gendo?) was scythed down in the box, and despite the fullback’s attempts to engage him in a lengthy conversation and advice pre kick Mornington kept his cool and fired home.
A very satisfying win in which the Ramblers played some good football in testing conditions. Well done chaps.
MoM – Kinsey