AA2 Match Report v Maccabi (18/07/10)

Another lovely sunny day greeted the notoriously unreliable Barnstoneworth AA2’s side in their clash with 2nd from bottom Maccabi. After a draw the previous week in what can only be described as a great advertisement for not playing sport and going to the pub instead, the home side were a little bit nervous and hoping to take all 3 points on this occasion, not whinge at each other for more than 20 of the 90 minutes and possibly play something that closely resembles to football.

The draw specialists started off well, dominating the early proceeding with sharp passing and movement. A Corner to Barnstoneworth from the right was whipped in by the best dead-ball deliver in the competition, hit the near post and was neatly chested down by the Maccabi keeper to a very grateful Bazza who unleashed an unstoppable volley from 6 inches out, 1-0 to Barnstoneworth.

Following that Maccabi got a bit more possession and pushed into Barnstoneworth half and after a period of sustained pressure got an equaliser, when a cross came in and wasn’t dealt with effectively, allowing Maccabi to nip in at back post and score. 1-1.

A sense of déjà vu fell across us all, and in particular memories of the previous Maccabi game where we had dominated possession, lead 1-0, 2-1, 3-2 and finally 4-3 and were fortunate the ref happened to blow the whistle at the time between us taking the lead and Maccabi’s inevitable equaliser, however we got back on the ball and started stretching them down both flanks. Ad’s, back from purgatory after rumours that he had hit on the bosses boyfriend proved to be unfounded was working well on the right. John and Dan were now controlling the midfield and it was Dan the man who scored a cracking header from near the penalty spot to restore Barnstoneworth’s lead. 2-1.

Dan had a chance to add to his tally shortly after, but this time he decided he was too close to goal and instead let the ball drift safely into the hands of Maccabi’s grateful keeper. As the half wore on, the heat was taking its toll on most of us and we were all glad for the half time whistle. The thirsty folks headed to get a drink, including the injured Ian who had finished his six-pack and headed off to the bottle shop looking for more.

For the first 10 minutes of the second half the game was tight, however John and Dan began to dominate the midfield and Abdul and Bazza were linking up well at front. Then the inevitable petulant moment occurred when super manager Scouse-Sean let the ball dribble over their bye line and preceded to boot the crap out of it. After refusing to go and retrieve the ball the ref had little choice (but also took great delight) in booking Sean, 1-0 to the ref!

Eventually our pressure paid off with the lightning quick Abdul outpacing Maccabi’s centre back (who had torn his quad trying to keep pace with him) before coolly beating the keeper 1 on 1, 3-1 to Barnstoneworth.

Shortly after that there was a moment that we won’t forget in a while (or won’t be allowed to forget), After a great run down the left Abdul squared the ball to Bazza who then laid the ball off for Scouse-Sean to bury the ball in the roof of the net. The groans from the sideline predominantly came from the home side’s supporters on the realisation that this would be replayed over and over again at the pub for decades to come. 4-1.

From there the game was one-way traffic and after the umpteenth corner brilliantly delivered from the right Bazza smashed home his second for the day. 5-1.

There was time enough for Bazza to complete his hat-trick, when he was put through on goal, rounded the keeper and put the ball into the net past the despairing dive of one of their defenders. Bazza ran towards the corner at pace as if preparing to do a cartwheel followed by a double somersault, realised he didn’t know how and decided this was no time to learn, stood there puzzled for a second before breaking into a broad grin.

6-1 was the full time score and all punters involved were happy, except for Ian who was crest-fallen on hearing Bazza had scored a hat-trick, realising that he would never hear the end of it!

(Author – Garnsey)

MoM – Barry