Match Reports
26/10/07
Sussex Plods 5-4 Men's 4th XI
A bottom of the table clash with both sides desperate to stop the rot and a decent looking Brighton team felt confident of getting something out of it.
Sadly though we had our usual stalling start and within ten minutes we were 2-0 down and staring down the barrel of a riot police taser. Then to compound matters usually mild mannered Dan Simpson got himself yellow carded for “verbals” chuntering away to the umpire he flashed him the green. Dan stood his ground and the colours of the rainbow continued with yellow the next out of the pocket.
To confuse matters even more College (on the sidelines nursing a whiplash injury) sends on Alex Wonder kid for Matt Harding with skipper Brooksy asking him to step into centre midfield as we were down to ten. Meanwhile, College was screaming at him to play up front. The poor lad didn’t know whether he was coming or going. Welcome to the 4s!
Happily though after Dan’s reintroduction the 4s began to show something we haven’t seen much of this year, character, fight, spunk, spirit, guts, will (not just will wells) and determination.
At Half time two Graham Stevens goals had restored the parity and we were still in it.
The game was a hum dinger with Russell and Dan having great games in the centre of the park and Sleaze playing out of his skin at sweeper (despite telling Brooksy he wasn’t a sweeper, me thinks he doth protest too much).
Despite this the defensive frailties that Brighton have shown this season returned and a soft goal restored the Plods lead, which they soon extended to 4-2. Brighton would not lie down and sign the confession statement. Matt Harding finished off a great move and the score was 4-3. Then a short corner was awarded and following a goal mouth scramble a p. flick was given. Who would take it….Tosh stepped up and after an age he shoved it tamely into the keepers chest. Bums! He is now officially at the bottom of the p. flick list.
Sussex Police then had a goal disallowed and it was get nasty out there. As Brighton pushed for the equaliser and threw caution to the wind the burly striker of the Police found himself unmarked at the top of the D and killed the game off… or did he….
Brighton again raised themselves from the depths of despair and an amazing move through midfield and Graham latched onto a great pass to deflect the ball at high speed into the top corner and it was 5-4 with seconds remaining. Young Alex fought hard for the ball and won what he thought would be a decisive corner. The umpire disagreed and Alex tempestuously through the ball down and was yellow carded. Harsh and the game was over.
Once again the boys were gutted but the day after I hope we all realised that we had been in a battle and acquitted ourselves admirably. Next time I think the result will be different…..