Sunday 19th October, 2008
FC Interski 2 v 1 Sherwood FC
As Bobby Robson once said, “There is only one word to describe football and that is, if only”. Today we gave the league leaders, and who knows perhaps the eventual winners of this Division a real run for their money. FC Interski joined the YEL for more of a challenge having not lost a game for two years. On the opening day they got beaten by Ravenshead, since which time they’ve played four, won four, scored 18 and conceded none. Our squad of ten was reduced to 7 for the day with one in Egypt, one in Newcastle and another (our goalie no less) who was given a little tour of North Notts particularly Skegby (don’t ask) before arriving just before half-time. This wouldn’t have been the team we would have started with if everyone had been available, which just goes to show how much managers know! We gave as good as we got in a very tight first half. Our stand-in goalie, William made some astonishing saves and let’s face it he was never going to be lobbed was he! The thing is everyone mucked in and we were for the third week in a row a real team. George, in spite of his man flu, and Tom were solid at the back, Buckly orchestrated midfield more than ably supported by Joe and Harry L who gave their best performances so far this season, and Finn did exactly what was needed up front, getting stuck in and giving them something to think about. Once again it was goalless at half-time and once again we opened the scoring with a speculative free-kick from Tom that deservedly found its way past the keeper. Sim came on in midfield and instantly took up where Harry had left off. Interski were rattled as going behind has only happened to them twice in the last 3 seasons, but they dug in and 12 minutes from time they got their equaliser. It was a massively brave near post header from a corner, glanced in past the unsighted William. Just a few minutes from time, with the scent of a famous victory in our nostrils we conceded their winner. I can’t say they didn’t deserve it, but by the same token our performance was worthy of at least a draw. There wasn’t a poor performance from anyone in a Sherwood shirt today, so what undid us? In my humble opinion FC Interski had the better set pieces and that's where both their goals came from, testimony to their intensive coaching. However, in open play, in my humble opinion they couldn’t touch us and for spells today it was just like watching Brazil and I was so proud! It was another true team performance that makes a Man of the Match award tricky. In truth I could have drawn the name from a hat and it wouldn’t have been wrong, but this week I’m being brave enough to make a choice, albeit a double choice. For his awesome debut performance in goal and for finally growing back into his old self this week the Men of the Match are William and Joseph. Well done to these two, but a huge pat on the back to all players today . . . we are apparently a squad that needs fear no-one.
