Match number: 1525On a hot late summer afternoon the B team had its first game of its second season against a club having its first ever game. Pre-season had gone well and with an influx of many good players the prospects for a successful season were as bright as the yellow shirts the B team now play in. The other notable event was that of having 4 members of the Harper family playing, the 3 brothers and Jonathan, youngest son of Mick.
However, within 10 minutes of the start the B’s were 0-3 down to some excellent finishing from 2 forwards who are wasting their time and talents playing at this level. The first goal was somewhat fortuitous as the B’s were down to 10 men at the time, 3 against 5 in midfield, as Andy McDermott was off the field having been stung in the mouth by a wasp in the first few seconds of the game! An unfortunate injury to debutant Steve Carter gave Manager Andy White some time to reflect on the problems the team was having and put substitute Craig Morgan into a now 5 man midfield, making the formation 3-5-2 and matching that of the lively visitors. This seemed to do the trick as the B’s enjoyed more and more possession and began to put pressure on the visitors’ goal, although the score remained the same at half time.
With not having conceded a goal for 35 minutes and having the best of the half possession-wise the team were confident of having a better second half and started well after an initial strong 5 minutes again from the visitors. With a strong squad the remaining substitutes, Dom De Piano and another debutant Symon Hope were brought on and both contributed to maintaining the pressure on the visitors’ goal. Finally the breakthrough came when a free kick from Mick Harper came back from the crossbar and Kevin Barrow rolled the ball in from 6 yards with the Viking goalkeeper tangled up in the back of the net after a challenge by Symon Hope! Despite more pressure the second goal would not come and from a breakaway the better of the two visiting forwards did a Cruyff turn just inside the box and finished with a firm strike into the far corner of the net.
Whilst beaten the B’s should take much from the game, especially the spirit and good passing football and the season will bring success if they remain positive and believe in themselves and the players around them. The visitors look destined for one of the promotion places, but both are still up for grabs. |
