Match Report
The journey across the border to Deeside evokes past memories of bad weather, bad tackles and bad refereeing. Unfortunately this visit did nothing to dispel those memories for the future.
The demise of Tata steel in Shotton has meant the larger changing rooms have been closed as funding was pulled but as a benefit to us we were scheduled to play on the nearer pitch, saving a long walk around the train line and across three rugby fields. Whilst Storm Callum threatened most games we were treated to a well maintained pitch with no sign of extreme weather damage but the lack of balls meant warming up was not to the usual Hooper high standards.
We had assembled a youthful looking side (at least two under 23’s) to play against the more experienced Shotton Steel and after four consecutive wins the team were full of confidence. A typical start to a Ramblers’ game with some excellent passing and movement was quickly replaced by some indecisive defending combined with some shambolic refereeing. However after a series of attacks by the Ramblers and counter-attacks by Shotton, the ball eventually broke to Shield’s and he was able to lift it over the keeper as he approached. One-nil up and nerves settled, unfortunately not! Some further pressure on the Rambler’s defence and testing of Bagpuss’ reflexes.
The wind and rain from Storm Callum had passed us by, however a continuous howl emanating from Shotton’s centre-half skipper continued to reverberate in the referee’s ears. After some correct decisions didnt go Shotton’s way the howl was silenced as the referee enforced the skipper to be substituted for his own benefit. (The referee’s or skipper’s, I’m not too sure)
Clearly influenced by this, the referee started to ignore the extremely effective Rambler’s offside trap and within minutes Shotton had levelled when a whipped ball in found its way to their forward in an advanced position. Continuing in the same style, the Ramblers pressed forward and established control in midfield. Although quite how Kinsey’s ankle survived a dreadfully late challenge in front of the referee we will never know. Half-time 1-1. The experienced Shotton retired to the comfort of the changing rooms for the half-time talk, no doubt led by the embargoed skipper. Who miraculously returned to the side for the second half.
Shotton started to force their presence in the second half and they were quick to take the lead. A lacklustre ball from kick-off put the defence under pressure and a dubious threw ball gave their forward a clear sight of goal. The shot, low and hard was well saved by Bagpuss who couldn’t keep hold of it. The forward was sluggish to receive the rebound and whilst Bagpuss was still beached he pounced to turn it in at the near post. Against the run of play the Rambler’s put together the best passage of play in the game which resulted in Gendall rocketing in from the edge of the box. The reinstated skipper was still incensed by the referee’s decisions and the skipper’s final bit of participation in the game was to haul Martin down in the area and get injured. Only for the referee to award a free-kick against the bemused Martin who was sat on the floor.
The remainder of the game suited Shotton. The Rambler’s pushed forward and could not keep hold of the ball upfront. The ball was quickly returned to the Shotton forwards who exposed the holes in defence and slotted some well worked goals. Bagpuss continued his debate over refereeing matters with a senile supporter to no avail and Shotton’s right-back compounded the result by going in late on as many players as possible. As their ageing forward rightly said as he reeled away after stroking the ball in to the side corner from 20 yards “its all about the experience”. The home leg is 26th January.