(15-Mar-14): vs Fleet Spurs Pythons (H): 3-1

The Life of Ryan

As we were playing the Fleet Pythons I had to crowbar in a reference to, perhaps, the Pythons’ most famous film ( which Eric Idle rather sensibly changed from “Jesus Christ: Lust for Glory” – which may have gotten them in more hot water than they were actually in when it was released ).

It’s apt too as Ryan was trainer of the week!

But ( despite our attackers doing an excellent job ) we must mention our defenders. The back line of Ollie, Euan and Max ST continued their brilliant form and provided a fantastic screen for Oscar, who was always ready to soak up whatever got through around or underneath our defence – often with some remarkable saves for someone so young. Euan headed everything that came his way and I suspect he may have nutted his tea that evening away from an imaginary 18 yard box. He is bravery personified. Max ST is just unruffled defence personified with a sideline in attacking intent and would slot well NOW into the United backline ( Moyes if you are reading ….if you can read …take note! ). But MOM went to Ollie who ( once again ) coped beautifully with some very lively strikers and the inevitable launching of the ball when Fleet started chasing the game. Ollie is brilliant at tracking and shielding and another boy who puts himself on the line when we are under pressure.

Fleet Pythons are a very good side and we have struggled against them in the past. I think they missed a trick by not playing tall striker with long-haired striker with wee jinky ball player buzzing behind them but let them figure that out and in any event I reckon our Great Wall of Headley would have coped.

But the above gives the misleading impression that we were under the cosh for the whole time. We may have been had we not woken from our slumbers of the first half, but gradually the midfield started working around the eponymous Ryan, with Joe and Max I Noah and Jack and Charlie B all taking turns in the engine room and on the wings with Rowan hovering up front with malice aforethought.

I think if we were being honest the first goal was against the run of play – but who gives a toss ( as Keats put it in his “Ode to Brentford”).

The penalty decision was on the errrr……generous side ( in respect of which please see the Keats reference ), but Rowan was making a nuisance of himself all around the 18 yard box and was rightly rewarded for his efforts by the ref. Max I despatched the penalty in a very ruthless fashion. The Fleet gruntle was well and truly dissed.

Cue greater urgency from them, more excellent defending by us ( and a midfield slowly waking up into the game ).
Going into the second half we looked a lot more composed and by the time the second goal came along we were much more ourselves. And what an excellent second goal it was. Joe flighted in a fantastic corner ( I disclose my interest at this point ) and Noah battered it in from an excellent run into the box. Simple but effective and more of the same please.

Fleet finally scored on the counter as they had been threatening to do and we all knew it was going to be another of those heart-testing run-ins to full time. Or was it?

Our defence was masterful and in their frustration Fleet started to launch their counter-attacks rather in the manner of the siege guns at the Battle of the Somme. Euan and Ollie dealt with all of this and Max ST was inevitably there to sweep up anything else and also trigger the counter-attacks.

Which all lead to goal number three – a through ball from Joe from which Noah scored. This wasn’t against the run of play and gave us a little breathing room.

We really are looking a very composed ordered and settled side with each player doing their bit ( under some excellent guidance from the coaches ) and, some would say about time, we are getting the rub of the green to go with all of that.

Well done boys.

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