This match will be remembered mainly for being abandoned ten minutes from time after a large fight. Despite this, we shouldn't forget Asterix Reds put in a battling performance to take all 3 points with a well earned 3-1 victory.
The first 20 minutes of the first half were shaded by SC who created several good chances with balls from deep. Cementing his status as a quality keeper, Sugu, made several fine stops. Sugu's great work in goal plus more than a few vital last ditch challenges by our defenders kept the scores level. Even though we had less chances, we always looked dangerous and did in fact take the lead after around 25 minutes.
After picking up the ball out wide on the right, Terry Harris beat a couple of defenders and held off the challenge of the last defender to slot home a high quality finish from a tight angle. 1-0 against the run of play; a fact that delighted the large crowd at Equine Park. The rest of the half was played out without major goal mouth incident and we were happy to go in at half time a goal to the good.
We talked at half-time about the need to contain their midfielders who were dropping deep and pinging long balls behind our defence. As we started the second half, we'd looked to have cut this out. Our defence also stepped up their efforts to give us a stronger platform at the back. We were now in control and our pressure ultimately caused a defensive error which was clinically punished.
Paul Williams intercepted a ball from deep. Pushing forward down the middle Paul put his ears back and outpaced the defenders to get into the box. Showing a lot of composure, Paul squared the ball between the trailing defender and out rushing keeper to provide Adam Scott with a straightforward finish. 2-0 and we were in control and the Equine Park roar was once again heard from the terraces. Only minutes later, we put the game out of SC's reach with a great third goal.
Tom Sarginson picked the ball up out wide right and made a penetrating goal bound run. After skipping in and out of 3 or 4 tackles, Tom fashioned a one-on-one chance with the keeper. His goal bound effort was parried by the keeper straight into the path of Adam Scott following up in text book centre forward manner. Still with work to do, Adam steadied himself and cooly headed the ball over the keeper and under the cross bar. 3-0 it was and with about 25 minutes left the game was as good as over.
This game always had a nasty edge. Several of the SC players seemed only interested swearing and kicking out at our players off the ball. Despite the ref seeing many of these incidents, he did not act. Additionally, he had been only too keen to blow for a free kick at the slightest hint of a strong challenge from our boys. We did show our frustration with the ref who responded by booking me for a challenge in which I had cleanly won the ball. Nonetheless, full credit to our boys for not getting drawn into trouble and playing a clean game.
The game threatened to boil over 20 minutes from the end, after an SC player lashed out at Shashi after he had shepherded the ball out for a goal kick. The entire SC team responded by crowding the area looking for a fight. Again, credit for our boys for helping to maintain the peace. Shortly after, SC, got a goal back after we failed to clear the ball from our box.
At 3-1 we were still very comfortable, but the game finally did boil over ten minutes from the end. In an attempt to win the ball, I caught one of SC's midfielders late. He proceded to get up and hit me in the face. I did not react to this at all. The refs reaction was to give me a second yellow card. The SC player who had hit me? No cards for him. On my way off the park, a couple of the SC players began throwing insults at me. I confronted one of them and our heads came together.
I was then set upon by what seemed like the entire SC team. Kicks and punches rained on me - all from behind. Full credit to my team mates for helping me out. It was noticeable that our boys were doing all they could do break up the fight. This was in sharp contrast to the SC team, subs and bench, all of whom seemed only interested in landing cheap kicks and punches from behind on our players. Eventually, calm was restored and ref did the right thing by calling an end to proceedings 10 minutes from time. As more than 60 minutes of the game had been played, the result will stand. This is comforting as we can only speculate that SC's intentions in starting a mass brawl was to get the match abandoned.
More importantly, I would like to apologise to the team for my part in the incident. After receiving my second yellow I should have kept walking off the pitch and not got involved in what happened. I was hit in the face and insulted several times by their players, but nonetheless I should have walked away. Accept my sincere apologies for not doing so. I'd also like to thank all of you for coming to my rescue after I was set upon by what seemed like the entire SC team. I know that many of you were kicked and punched with cheap shots as you tried to break up the fight. I'd like to thank you for backing me up when I needed help. Had you not done so, I would have been badly beaten.
At least six of us attended the post match drinks at JnR for some much needed therapeutic Tiger Beers. A big thank you to Stu's mate, Kenny, for kindly picking up the tab. We will make an official complaint to the league for the conduct of SC's players and we'll leave the league committee to take care of things from this point on.
For our team, it's important that we don't let this incident distract us from enjoying the rest of the season. We played some good football yesterday. All 3 of the goals we scored were high quality. Our commitment and strength to pull out a comfortable win over a team that tried to verbally and physically intimidate us was positive. And, the 3 points that we receive for this win puts us within striking distance of the top of the table.
Next Saturday, we have an important game against our title chasing rivals, The Vikings. It's sure to be a good game of football by two teams who like to knock the ball about. Let's get back into our groove with a good football performance. If we can play good football, we can be confident of picking up another victory.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment