Goal Rush comes in ‘Andy

Our first league game of the season saw us at home to Khalsa, a team against which we have always lost. They usually field a side of older players in their fifties and sixties together with four or five younger players who provide pace and mobility. Despite their advancing years the older players have proved to be formidable opponents in the past combining high levels of close ball control with sharp accurate passing. Their over 50s were finalists in the National Vets Cup in 2006 which gives a good indication of the high skill levels of their older players. However as we lined up it was obvious that their younger players were missing.

We were also missing James Harris, Steve Aylin, Andy Jackman and Murray Creed but the unexpected return Andy Rush was a welcome relief.

With just a few minutes into the game John Harrison came storming down the right flank and cracked a great cross into the D which an eager Keith Willetts smacked into the back of the net.

A short time later and another great pass (from Harrison again I think) found Willetts out wide on the right. He cut in to draw the defender before slipping it Rush who despatched it smartly into the net.

The Khalsa defenders lacked mobility but not skill. They dealt with anything that came close to them and played with confidence and composure in tight situations in the D. However when they pushed forward to bolster the midfield they became vulnerable to any counter attacks. Andy exploited this weakness to great effect and after collecting a pass on the 23 he came surging into the D leaving the keeper little choice but to commit. A well measured pass set Willetts up for his second. Three up with only twenty minutes gone, this was a great start and the omens were looking good.

We were playing very well as team and making fewer unforced errors than in previous games. Nevertheless there were a few patches of poor play. Some tippy-tappy hairy-fairy passes went nowhere and one defensive muddle allowed Khalsa to score a scrappy goal. The mantra is: be positive and pass/clear the ball with pace and direction. Fortunately these errors were few and far between.

It was a good first half but the general feeling was that we definitely needed another goal to kill the game off. With everyone fired up we started the second half with even more purpose than the first.

Mike Bettridge was using the option of playing the ball out wide to Mick Lane as well as playing it forward. This presented the Khalsa forwards with the classic dilemma of which man to close down which was the last thing they wanted given their mobility issues. Great stuff Mike. When Mick did receive the ball he wasted no time in sending it forward to John or Matt. The old maxim is true - ‘let the ball do the work’.

Then came ‘one of those sublime moments’ when time seems to stand still. Mick shepherded the ball all the way from midfield across the 23 and through the D until it went out of play. Proudly waddling behind it he even instructed an exasperated Yogi to “Leave It”. Bizarrely not one single opponent attempted to close him down all seemingly mesmerised by the unfolding spectacle. I am sure no one seriously thought he would have the audacity to let it roll out of play over such a long distance. Well he did!

Craig too was on form and he also stopped and cleared what looked to be a certain goal for the second time in consecutive games. He was really getting stuck in – literally. During one tackle Craig completely flattened their right half before coming away with the ball. It was definitely accidental but the prone player looked less than happy and took some time to recover.

Soon after Yogi pulled off a tremendously well timed late save with his left boot. Good stuff, he really is playing well and this transfers confidence to the defenders in front of him.

By now we were playing really well as a team. Matt Lyons and Tony Dwyer were consistently breaking down the Khalsa attacks by tracking back in front of the forwards rather than ‘diving in’. They either regained possession or made it easier for the second wave man to make the tackle. Very effective and disciplined play from both.

By now Harrison was absolutely flying, thoroughly dominating the right flank and setting up attack after attack. He was desperately unlucky not to score when he slashed a fierce shot high into the side netting. It was great to see a plethora of short passing taking place especially between those in midfield. Some of the interplay between David Higgins, John and Simon was a joy to watch.

As usual Dave worked his b socks off in midfield and also pushed up to support the attack when he could. During one push forward he received the ball near the top of the D and cracked in a great shot which fizzed just inches wide of the post. A great effort.

Meanwhile Rush went on to score four more goals. I’ll just write that again in an attempt to sound a little less understated, Rush went on to score four more goals – awesome! All four were well taken goals with the last being the most impressive because he had to take control the ball form an awkward angle and ride a rather horrendous tackle before getting his shot away. It was a perfect example of his TTT (Touch, Turn, Take) mnemonic from last week. Five goals in one game is quite an achievement- wonderful.

Khalsa replied from two well taken short corners but by then the writing was on the wall.

Simon Russell was very effective playing just behind the forwards with constructive play that maintained our forward momentum and kept Khalsa on the back foot. His tireless effort was justly rewarded with two very well taken goals. His first came from a short corner which banged into the backboard. The second came when Willetts passed back from the by-line to find him perfectly positioned in the centre of the D. He thumped the ball straight into the back of the net with aplomb (no phone number please, I’m still hooked on alacrity). He was denied a hat-trick when a real stunner of a shot took a layer of paint off the outside of the post.

What about 1 SNB? As with all thrillers the best is saved till last. Shaun Bates was as good as ever in the middle at the back but in the second half he pushed up into the midfield where he was outstanding. He began sending passes wide right and wide left with great pace and accuracy - magnificent. This really finished off Khalsa. They just couldn’t cover the ground to cope with the constant switching of attack, first one side then the other – brilliant play.

It is important not to get carried away with this win and become over-confident or complacent because there will be much stiffer tests to come. However it is also important to savour the moment because nine-goal victories don’t happen very often. This was a great team performance from the mighty 4s and we should all take some time to enjoy. Can’t wait for next week.

Post Script

Post-match analysis over a pint:
Yogi, “Even if it’s right it is always wrong!”
Shaun, “I know exactly what you mean.”

Existentialism lives!

and finally...
1. I have no idea why some names appear in red and others don't.
2. I refuse to discuss Andy's woggle until I have seen it.
3. Many thanks to Dave for keeping the statistics updated.