Match Report
With Mornington running the Galway Marathon and McNay otherwise engaged, it was difficult to know who would step up to the plate and miss the chances that are routinely created by this Vets team. The welcome return of Bibby gave hope, but these were big shoes to fill.
The pre-match navigation email reassured the squad that it was replete with experience. This communication caused Bagley, with the skipper’s permission, to break ranks and go to play for St Mary’s Old Boys Over 55s, which this week meant going to a more youthful outfit. The use of the word replete, however, was a mistake, as the back four were still trying to work out what that word meant as five minutes in a cross from the right crept past all of them to allow an easy finish at the far post. Ten minutes later the dictionary was still being fumbled through as a corner from the left crept past all of them and allowed an easy finish at the far post.
McGuckin, out of sorts, limped off with an achilles injury, and this promoted a move to 5-3-2. Up top, Jones and Bibby were doing a good impression of strikers who had played together before (even though they hadn’t), which was a new phenomenon for this team. Morris and Yates calmed the midfield and worked well together. Things were looking up until Gorton broke the golden rule and told Rushie he had time. 3-0.
Half-time came not a moment too soon. Warren’s first outing of the season reminded us of his smooth passing. The Vets monetarily threatened a comeback. A Yates trademark long throw found Bibby in a soupçon of space and he swiftly dispatched the chance. Another long throw caused more mayhem, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box where Morris drove a half-volley into the top corner. This was a goal his virtuoso performance deserved. Talk about rolling back the years.
In the meantime, Bibby had overstretched himself and had to retire, Hulme returned to the fray and made many a good challenge at centre-half, allowing Gorton to move into the centre-forward position (yes, it’s true). Upton had managed a goal against the run of play when (brace yourselves) a ball was dinked forward for Rushie to volley into the top corner. That was 4-3. Pulses raced. Pacemakers leapt into life. Defibrillators were at hand. But then Upton scored a brilliant 5th and the game was gone.
But there was much to admire in this performance. Well done, Men.
Not much has changed …
LRAFC Vets -v- Upton Vets
3rd September 2005
HODGSON HOPEFUL AS KENDALL MAKES HIS POINT
It is always unfortunate to lose your most experienced striker just prior to an important away International – whether it be to suspension, injury or the Custody Suite at Birkenhead Police Station. However, Murf’s absence with a groin strain/back injury/client being interviewed, enabled Skipper Warren to take the audacious step of recalling Hodgson from what had been believed to be permanent retirement.
Some observers doubted the wisdom of Hodgson placing his ageing body at risk again, but the moustachioed maestro repaid the Skipper’s confidence with a first half display that rolled back so many years it should have been viewed in black and white.
The unavailability of Handley also gave room to give Howatt his traditional one domestic game per season by way of warm-up for International duties. However, several senior players are concerned at Howatt’s choice of footwear. You need to be a very, very good player to get away with boots made of fluorescent grey plastic. Howatt is only very good.
To the game:-
A first half hour of total control was played at a slow pace while McGuckin, Crutchley and Morris J took the first Vets’ game of the season as an opportunity to remember to pass only to each other. In truth, the Ramblers could – perhaps should – have been a goal or two up, but the ball would never quite get into the net. A magnificent move that put the ball on Crutchley’s favoured foot right in front of goal merely brought a breathtaking save from the Upton ‘keeper.
At half time, the has- been that used to be the Chairman gave way to an eager Angus Noble. Lazarus cited imminent departure to Cumbria as his reason for needing substitution, but some observers doubted he had any more left in his legs anyway.
Much of the same easy paced control followed until Kendall took a breather, bringing Morris back to midfield and giving Bagley a run out in front. Howatt’s twinkling boots took him deftly past three men, but he seemed to believe that he was Crutchley and took on the inevitable fourth, losing possession to an Upton move that brought an athletic angled save from No.1 Chris Kingsford. That save deserved better defensive support from the ensuing corner, which sailed into the 6 yard box to an unmarked Upton midfielder for a tap in.
The second Upton goal was little better, with possession again given away unnecessarily, followed by a goalmouth scramble from which the ball broke unkindly for the Ramblers, giving the opportunity for another virtual tap in.
Less generous players than Kendall at the touchline would have been tempted to observe that he left the field at 0-0, and now we were 2 down.
The ageing midfield dynamo that is Johnny Arthur had by now been on too many sprinting overlaps and Kendall returned to fill in (I think) at right midfield. Johnny Morris and Hodgson were by now both playing at left wing, leaving McGuckin alone in the centre. Kendall inevitably came back centrally as well, but fortunately the Upton left sided attack had by now found their place in Noble’s pocket and no further crises developed.
Another wonderful passing move from the centre of the pitch up into the Upton area found the ball on the end of Bagley’s foot. His pinpoint pass under the ‘keeper into the corner of the net was so well placed that your correspondent at first congratulated McGuckin for the shot – until the gleaming dome of the celebrating forward’s head gave away the true story.
From that point on, it seemed likely that the Ramblers would score again. Crutchley’s dancing feet found the music again on the edge of the Upton area for hints of what was to follow, before yet another inter-play between several Ramblers got the ball in front of McGuckin who took control at the end of a Lampard-like run into the mixer. For a moment it seemed that the effort would come to nothing as the ball caught beneath his feet and rebounded away. With Drogba-like presence and skill, however, Kendall was well placed to allow the ball to hit his shin and bounce over the line. The new Skipper’s first point was secured.
The HAC visit next Sunday. The pace is unlikely to be as comfortable, but there is no reason for fear. Those who travelled to London recall being 1-0 up at the hour. The collapse that followed was as much to do with the journey, the 11 man squad and the rolling subs of the HAC squad of 17 as anything else.
See you all When Sunday Comes.
(PS. Daley and the Skipper were awfully good as well).
GL