Waveney Tarts V Pot Black F.C.

Waveney Hearts v Pot Black
Dip Farm
22-02-09
Result 3-3

Both clubs came into the top of the table clash defending an unbeaten record.
PB for the first time in a long time had a full squad to pick from. Richard Reeder returned in goal after returning from his work commitments, David Shade continued at the after his impressive debut last week and Rory French returned upfront to partner Liam.

The game started with both sides trying to play football on a difficult bumpy surface.
PB were having the lions share of possession and could have taken the lead on several occasions. Hearts were content to play on PB mistakes and hit long balls out of defence which were easily dealt with by the defence.
Hodge and Max in the centre were commanding in midfield winning all the challenger’s and creating a lot of problems for Hearts.

After 20 mins the deserved goal came, following a corner from the right Rory rose majestically to plant a header into the top corner. Still PB pressed and could have got a second before a diabolical decision by the referee to give Hearts a penalty following a handball decision which clearly hit the defenders face and was seen by all players and supporters alike apart from the referee. After the customary bookings and the fines, this explains why clubs are struggling to keep going. I do not condone dissent but after such a poor decision I can understand players frustration with the officials.
The penalty was converted to make the score 1-1 which was totally unjustified at this stage of the match.
This spurred Hearts on and deflated PB and for the next 10mins, Hearts were in control and should have been given a legitimate penalty when Darren Laws completely wiped out an attacker from behind when clean through, only this time the referee the only person not to see it.(2 wrongs do not make a right though springs to mind).It is this inconsistency with referees that infuriate clubs and players alike.
The first half finished 1-1.

The second half started with both sides looking for the get the all important second goal but PB were dealt another blow 5 mins into the second half when David Shade went for tackle which the ref saw enough to warrant a second yellow card and duly sent him off to make PB play almost the entire second half with 10men. Considering the good spirit the game had been played in with no bad tackles and the consequence of the first booking, a more experienced referee would have taken a different stance.
This seemed to spur PB on and a reshuffle of the pack meant that Jordon had to be replaced to enable Kev Sherwood to return at centre-half.
Still Hearts were showing very little as an attacking force and PB were controlling the game. It was no surprise that PB took the lead after good interpassing, left Liam with a clear ran on to goal, the keeper made good save but it rebounded into the path of Rory to slide into the empty net much to the delight of players and supporters alike.




PB continued to press forward to their credit and scored a good goal after Max Wall made a break down the left wing and crossed to the edge of the box where Rory showed his class by controlling the ball and hitting a screamer into the top corner before the keeper moved to give PB a 3-1 lead.
PB were now in complete control and it took another mysterious decision by the referee when Liam got away on the left wing and pushed the ball past the on-coming defender only for the defender to carry on with his tackle and professionally wipe him out. PB were given a free-kick and almost unbelievably no action taken by the referee.
Adam Sivell took over from Liam in mid-field for a fresh par of legs. Hearts were still not offering much but it took another huge slice of luck to get them back into the game. Following a harmless cross from the right, Reeder went down to collect the ball only for the ball to hit a divot and shoot off over his head enabling an opposing forward to put the ball into the net.
Hearts must have thought all their luck had come in one game and went looking for a thoroughly underserved equaliser which they got from a 30yrd shot which flew into the top corner of the net.
Still PB looked for winner but the game ended 3-3 and with Hearts thankful to hang onto their unbeaten record.
PB can take a lot of credit from this game considering the circumstances during the game and playing with 10 men for the second half but still being the better footballing team throughout the game.
This bodes well for next week when we play our Suffolk Cup semi-final at Leiston.
Last but not least a word for the referee who controlled the game well but got some big decisions wrong for both sides.

MOM
THE TEAM GOES WITHOUT SAYING.

But I would like to mention a couple of people Rory with an excellent hat-trick and endless running up front alone for most of the second half and Max Blowers playing at centre-half who played with an assurance well beyond his age.


HOT NEWS(BAD)
Hearts have lodged an appeal on the fact that we played 4 senior players instead of the allowed 3. It appears that we should have only had 3 in the team and not as your secretary thought, 3 senior players on the field at the same time, which we abided by.
It appears the appeal will be upheld by the committee and we will lose the point despite all the hard work put in by the players.
We are in the process of getting a case to appeal should the committee uphold the appeal.
So for Waveney Hearts who appear to be content on winning the league by any means either by not playing and getting the points or appealing to the committee, I wish them luck as I would rather win the game on the pitch which we did on Sunday albeit the result.

David

Kessingland Queens Head v Pot Black

(DAISY - RUNG THE CHANGES TO SNEAK A WIN)

Kessingland
15-02-09
Result
2-3

Pot Black continued in winning ways and kept their unbeaten run going in the league against a very good team considering their league position. In the end PB run out 3-2 winners.

The game started with David Shade making his debut at the centre of defence after transferring from Harrods and with Ben ‘the cat’ Strachan showing his versatility by starting up front in place of the unavailable Rory French.
PB were soon into their stride and creating several good chances which went begging either by poor shooting or the opposing keeper making a good save. The game should have been over at this stage if some of those had been taken. David Shade was showing his strength in the air by winning several headers of the ball when the ball was pumped clear by the opposing defence.
But like all games of football when chances go begging, the opposition come more into the game and after 25mins took the lead when a break down the left and a good cross into the box resulted in David Shade scoring an own goal when trying to clear the ball. This clearly gave Kessingland an uplift and deflated PB who then struggled to put 2 passes together.
It was Kessingland’s turn then to miss several chances which could have killed the game, poor finishing and good saves from Kev Sherwoood enabled the score to stay at 1-0 and the match finely balanced.

The second half started as the first with PB having the lion’s share of possession but very few clear cut chances to equalise.
Kessingland Queens Head were battling well and winning most of the 50-50 battles and giving PB as difficult game as any opposing side this year. After another break away they increased their lead after poor marking left the player in front of goal to slide the ball past Kev Sherwood.
It was now backs to the wall and PB were going to have show what it takes to be a winning side by coming from a 2-0 deficit for the first time this year,
Changes were immediately with Jordon Wardrope replacing Max Wall and Darren Laws coming on at the back enabling Max Blowers to move up front. This had an immediate impact on the game with his running off the ball and heading ability giving the home defence plenty of problems. PB pulled a goal back with 20mins to go through Liam who confidently slid the ball past the keeper when put through. This was the spur PB needed and were now looking for an equaliser which was not long coming after good work in midfield by Coop’s who then feed the ball through for Max Blowers to finish with a good shot into the bottom corner giving the keeper no chance.
A point would have been a bonus after being 2-0 down but to their credit PB still went looking for a winner and again good chances went begging to win the game. With the game looking as if the draw would be the result. Liam got away on the right and rifled in a cross which the keeper made his only mistake of the game, fumbling the ball and leaving Max Blowers to tap in the winner to the delight of the players and supporters.
So 3 points from a game which appeared to be lost with 20mins to go is a great result.
But PB will have to play much better in the next 2 weeks with a top of the table clash against unbeaten Waveney Hearts next week at Dip Farm and the big one the following week –
Suffolk Cup Semi-final at Leiston.

MOM
Max Blowers –commanding at the back and changed the game by moving up front, scoring 2 goals.

David
PB MANAGER.

Yet again no game last Sunday, it wasn't because of the weather or the team building seminar at Prague, this time it was the because the opposition Oak Tavern didn't turn up, didn't bother to let us now and to cap it all we had a really strong squad of players on duty. This has been a really frustrating time because of the lack of football but remember lads all the big games are just round the corner! The weather forecast is getting warmer (Geoge Michaelish)for the weekend so there's a good chance that the Queens Head game at Kessingland will be on. This is'nt a game to take lightly as they have been playing well at late and only lost by the odd goal against the Hearts. With the hearts game the week after and the Suffolk County semi-final the week after that everyones playing for form and a starting place! By the way the Poster for the coach to go to Leiston is on the board, so everyone get your names down as it will be a pity if some of the players has to DRIVE!!! We've decided that everyone on the coach will pay a fiver and they'll be no subs on the day!! We MIGHT be stopping for a few bevy's afterwards with the idea of getting back to the Club about 7pm. we have got 24 passes into the ground and the rest will have to pay a £3( paying money to watch you lot play, now that's a first, last year everyone would have payed money to get out!!!!)

For the ones who didn't go to Prague, the trip was right up there with the best we've had and I got to say personally it was the funniest one I've ever been on! Thanks to the organiser Rob Sterry and his understudy Danny for putting together all the ways we had to show ourselves up, the army one was brilliant. No one at Stanstead could forget the Morris Dancers and there stupid dance they had to do every time Commander Bird ordered us to do it. Which was really FREQUENT! Everything else was top secret and is buried deep in PB'S holidays archives(it's like a secure library for you dumbshites). Thanks also to the youngsters who entertained us codgers but still upheld the clubs standards! There was a shed load of piss-slinging and everyone got there fair share of it. If you pressed me one the people who got the most the order would be!!

3rd place :- Danny (the prudish transvestite) Andrews

2nd place :- Jason (lady hater) Russell

1st place :- Daaaaarrren Laws