Barnstoneworth AA2 v Coogee United

After a turbulent few months it was finally time for Barnstoneworth United to step back out on a football field to kick off the 2020 season. What a fixture to kick things off… None other than archrivals Coogee United at Heffron.

It was the first year Barny had only entered the one team into the division since club legend and record scorer Billy Lettuce captained the side in 1972. Wheelo has assembled a squad predominantly made up of last seasons 2 squads and as always, a few new faces. Its fair to say that this year’s squad is defensive heavy with 12 out of the 20 players signed preferred positions being at the back.

Barny started the game with a 442 formation:

Ollie (GK), Paul.B (RB), Joe.P (CB), Scott.D (CB), Ben.W (LB), Gary.M (RW) Joe.N (CM), Nick.K (CM), Stephen.W (LW), Jason.B (ST), Luke.F (ST)

Bench: Simba, Luke.T, Ben.K, Andy.L, Ryan.M

Coogee kicked the game off with a shot from the kick-off which sailed way wide and over the bar. Barney keeper Ollie was heard shouting “have a day off son, you won’t be beating me from there geeza”.

It was clear from the start that they had an organised side with their stand-out players being in the centre of the park. With Joe playing alongside Nick in a new role in the centre of the park they had their work cut out as it became obvious that Coogee were playing with an extra man in midfield. After 10 minutes Jason was forced to sit a bit deeper to help regain control in the centre.

Approaching the 20-minute mark there wasn’t much between the two sides until a neat ball from Coogee down the right caught left back Wardle in 2 minds. Choosing to press the man on the ball Wardle was caught out with a neat through ball into the Coogee striker who finished well. 1-0 Coogee.

It wasn’t long after the goal that the lads in red and white introduced some fresh legs, bringing on Simba and Luke in the midfield. Moving a lost and exhausted Newman to his more natural position at RB and giving Jason a breather, the two natural centre midfielders immediately helped to steady the ship in the centre with Nick.

Barney were now on top and did not let the early goal stop them pressing hard and for an equaliser. A tidy ball through to Luke moments later quickly sobered the striker up from the night before and left him 1v1 with the keeper. Choosing to strike the ball with his shin rather than his boot was a decision he immediately lived to regret as the ball went marginally wide of the far post. Club legend Sir John Morton on the sideline who had been on the Desperados since 7am chipped in with some supportive words “Haddaway man! A cudda scored that wid me shlong”. Without a doubt the encouragement the newly signed striker needed to spur on his fight for goal for the rest of the game.

Moments later Coogee threatened with a corner. Keeper Ollie came to claim the ball, but his newly grown hair was clearly in his eyes as he fumbled to the feet of the Coogee defender who luckily blazed the ball over the bar.

In a chaotic final 20-minute spell before the half time break Barney saw 2 clear cut penalty shouts dismissed and a dubious offside goal decision which would have seen Gary Alvez on the score sheet. Billy Lettuce soon put an end to the speculation of a dodgy offside decision back at the Coach hosting his very own ruthless version of the dubious goals committee “You were fucking miles off Gary son and that’s that!”. Case closed.

Aside from the goal, Barney’s defence looked solid and did not look like conceding. Joe and Scott comparable to Ferdinand and Vidic as a CB pairing from the get-go. 1-0 to Coogee at the half time break.

Barney kicked off the second half as they continued to fight for the equalizer. More changes from the side kept the side fresh as they attacked the Coogee end.

Jason was proving to be a thorn in the side of the Coogee defence. Even when he was not winning the ball, he was forcing errors from the Coogee defenders with some of their clearing headers sailing in the opposite to their intended direction.

Luke worked tirelessly chasing down every ball off Jason’s flicks. Most noticeably getting on the end of a through ball which saw him sent right wide by the keeper. He cut the ball back to an on-charging Andy Lees on the edge of the 6-yard box. The crowd were on their feet expecting the winger to put both the ball and the defender in the back of the Coogee net! Andy not realising how close the defender was too him decided to take a touch which was then neatly mopped up by the Coogee defence. Andy has since been receiving treatment for PTSD after the blunder but has been reported to be making great progress. We are told that he’s fired up and ready to make up for the miss during the first home game at Paine reserve this coming weekend.

Coogee kept the ball well in the centre of the park in an attempt to slow the game down but aside from some long-range efforts from Coogee which didn’t really test Ollie.

Barney continued to threaten in the closing minutes with a close effort on the half volley from Luke Faulks and headers off the back of some delicious deliveries from Luke Turner.

Unfortunately, Barney could not find that equalising goal and the game ended 1-0 to the away side. Certainly not the result the Barny Army wanted in their opener but some positives to take away from the game with every player putting in a good shift. Coogee were delighted with the 3 points, knowing that they only really deserved a point at best!

We go again next week with the first home fixture at house of Paine!

MTB

Result 1-0 to Coogee