BACK TO THE LEAGUE(THE FINAL RUN-IN)

It's here! This Sunday the match which can decide our season. Lake Lothing, the only team to beat us this season and this is our chance to get even. If we win, runners-up position is practically ours and also keeping the real dream alive of beating Waveney Farts on the last game of the season to secure the league title!!! If anyone needs slapping around the chops to get them up for this one they shouldn't be playing FOOTBALL! The attitude has got to be right from the beginning with everyone putting the work in! If we play like we did against the hearts (when we got ROBBED)I've got no worries at all! One thing we will have got to do is to play for the full 90 minutes as Lake has won a lot of important games in the last few seconds.We all know we can play, were on pitch 1 on Normo, which is a good omen so lets show Lake what this club is all about and we are not just the league pretenders!

Also, I hope our Saturday side all the British for this coming week, as they have what can only be described as their biggest match of the season. Everyone would have loved to play Hearts in the final but this wasn't to be, so beating them in the semi will be just as good . I haven't watched any of the PB/Hearts matches before so I'm looking forward to it no end! It's been a terrific season for both our teams and I haven't been so up for local football in years. The longer this can carry on the better but one thing I am worried about is......... the fishing season starts in 3 weeks and I haven't even looked at my GEAR YET!!! It's ALL YOUR BLOODY FAULT!!

Juggs V Pot Black (League Cup)

M.O.M. REEDO (The only photo I can find of him)

Juggs v Pot Black
Cup 29-03-09
Win 6-2

PB were drawn against Juggs from Div 2 who have won their league already this year and will be playing Div 1 football next year. So this was potentially going to be a hard game for PB and although the final score of 6-2 appeared comfortable, the game itself was never and Juggs deserve a lot of credit for the way they played and on that form should have no problems next year.

The game started with PB having to make changes again with Danny starting up front and Liam taking a central midfield role. Juggs started with 10 men but it was the home side that were showing a lot more commitment for the game and had the lion’s share of the opening exchanges. They could have taken a deserved lead on several occasions but for poor finishing and superb goal keeping by Reedo. One save in particular, where he stopped the original shot but got up to block the rebound was one from the top drawer.
PB were struggling to put 2 passes together and seemed intent on trying to hit a difficult pass or hit a long ball when simple 10 yrd pass would have better. Kieron had to be replaced after a1/2 hr with an injury allowing Rob to replace him. Just before half-time PB took the lead when a defender clearing the ball passed the ball straight to Rory allowing him a clear ran in to goal before passing to Birdy to put the ball into the net. The half-time whistle blew with PB somewhat fortunately winning 1-0.

The second started again with Juggs on the front foot and soon equalised when a forward got through onto goal onto goal only for Reedo to make a good save but the rebound fell kindly and the ball ended up in the PB net.
Birdy then got inured after a heavy tackle, which resulted in Lansy coming on and PB reshuffling again. Liam then showed his class with a fee-kick from 30yrds, which he took quickly and planted the ball into the top left corner of the net. Juggs soon equalised after another good save from Reedo resulting in the ball clearing to the edge of the box where a Juggs player hooked the ball over his head and into the top of the PB net.
The game was evenly balances now and with both sides looking for that 3rd goal and importantly it went to PB when after a goalmouth scramble, Danny blasted the ball into the roof of the net. PB’s fourth was not long coming when Liam took the ball round the keeper only for him to bring him down and a penalty being given. After a long delay which resulted in the keeper having to leave the game through injury, Reedo stepped up to take the penalty and duly planted the into the top left hand corner of the net.
The game was now all but over and further goals from Liam and Rory gave the final score of 6-2 for PB.
Although PB advance into the next round and the triple is still on, they will have to play a lot better to achieve this.
MOM
Reedo: excellent saves and showed a how a penalty should be taken
Next Week: Lake Lothing Normanston Park , pitch 1

POT BLACK V ETC'S

Pot Black v Etcs
22-03-09
Result 4-3

This game had all the potential to be a banana skin for PB with some players out celebrating Daaaaareeerens birthday and several call-offs on Saturday evening due to injury.
But to the player’s credit, Pot Black kept their league title hopes alive with a 4-3 victory to upset the watching supporters of Waveney Hearts and dent their claim they had already won the league in the Journal this week. This was on top of the fact that several of our SENIOR PLAYERS unavailable there was nothing else for them to do but to settle back and watch two teams play A game of football!!!!!!!!!!!

The game started with PB struggling to put 2 passes together on a hard bumpy pitch.
and playing into a strong wind.
The first 10 mins was even with both sides not getting the upper hand although Rory French did look dangerous every time he got the ball. The versatile Kev Sherwood playing at the centre of defence also shone in defence for PB.
After 25 mins PB took the lead and it was that man Rory running on to a through ball leaving the last defender in his wake before a hitting a powerful shot into the corner of the net.
This was hopefully the spur that PB needed but unfortunately the equaliser was not long coming when a mistake by Reedo in goal enabled a soft equaliser.

This was against the run of play but PB soon had the opportunity to go ahead when a long ball was cleverly controlled by Rory in the box only to be brought to the ground by the opposing keeper who made up for his mistake with a good save from Rory’s penalty. The half-time whistle came with the game evenly balanced and PB needing to put in a greatly improved second half performance.

After a half-time rollicking and Liam coming on to replace the injured Birdy and partner Rory upfront.
PB came out with the wind advantage, PB starting to get on top of their game and had chances to increase their lead. The pressure was telling with several corners in quick succession but credit to the Etcs keeper who managed to get a fist on the ball every time. But the vital goal came in the most unlikely way. From a long clearance from the keeper, Kev Sherwood spotting him off his line, lobbed the keeper from 40yrds in typical Beckham style which would have made the back pages of the daily tabloids.
The third was soon coming after excellent defensive work by Coop’s wining the ball on the edge of the area and passing a good ball for Rory to use his pace and blast the ball through the keeper’s legs. Etcs came back into the game with a 20yrd fee-kick which was excellently taken, bending the ball over the wall and into the top corner.
The game could have gone either way but after more good work by Rory on the left wing and crossing into the box left Max Wall with a chance which he blasted into the net. Still Etcs to their credit did not die and scored again to give the game an edgey last 10 minutes but PB held out to win.
3 games to go, 3 wins and the title is ours despite Waveney’s claims.

MOM
Kev Sherwood: tower of strength at the back and a goal to savour.

Next week: Juggs Kessingland League Cup

TIME FOR THOUGHT!!!!!!!

12 games gone, over 1000 minutes of football played, buckets of sweat been shed but do you really want to crown Waveney 'Cheats' league CHAMPIONS because your incapable of beating etcs this Sunday!!!! Wouldn't they really love it when we beat them last game of the season and they will still ram it down our throats that it doesn't matter as POT BLACK threw it away two weeks previous, when they lost to etcs, because they were too PISSED! I know its Daaaaarrrrrennnnn's birthday and 21 of the lads are going to have plenty of drink, have a great time. So have a good night, don't do nothing really silly,(like getting arrested)but keep a thought somewhere in that addled brain of yours that there's still an important game of footy in the morning! The thing is when the seasons disappeared down the plughole that THUMPING HEAD will feel 1000 times worse with me shouting down your LUGHOLE!!!

Lastly, I know you've all noticed those whooping great lugs on the side of my head and the animal which it is associated with? Well, I don't forget ANYTHING either, so at the presentation night or on a the bike ride in the summer, when anyone tries to bring up "WHAT A BRILLIANT SEASON WE HAD!" Don't expect sentimental crap if we throw it away ourselves!!!

WALLY & DAISY

POT BLACK V HARRODS 15 MARCH 2009

Pot Black v Harrods
15-03-08
Result win 5-1

As the season draws to a close, PB need to win all 4 remaining league games if they are to be champions. Having drawn once in the league already this season with Harrods this was always going to be a tough match.
PB had a changed side with the formidable pairing of Danny and Lansy on the bench to put the fear of god up the front men should they not perform.

Today’s game kicked off in near perfect conditions although the pitch was slightly on the hard side. The early stages were fairly even with neither side bothering the opposing keeper. PB was struggling to put 2 passes together and was continually being outfought by a Harrods midfield, which meant they kept relying on the long ball too much. After 25 mins Harrods took the lead after good work put their forward through with a run on to goal and gave Kev Sherwood no chance. Still PB struggled to put 2 passes together but still managed to create and waste some good chances to equalise. Half-time approached and it looked as If PB would go in 1-0 down but with the best move of the match switching the ball from one wing to another resulting in a good cross for Liam to convert.
There was still time from a throw near Harrods 18yrd line, Liam controlled the ball and twisted in one movement to plant the ball in the bottom corner to give PB a 2-1 lead at half-time.

The next goal was crucial to the outcome of the game and with only 1 minute gone in the second half, Harrods keeper done well to parry a shot, but unluckily saw it bounce up to Rory who nodded the rebound in to give PB a 3-1 lead. This gave the PB the confidence they needed and were now playing some neat football. With Harrods heads dropping it was all one way traffic and several good chances went begging before more good work from one wing to the other, left COOPS with a run onto goal and neatly put the ball into the net. Rob was subbed to let Danny have a much waited come back up front with Liam going wide. With his first touch, a delightful swivel and superb through ball to Harvey should have brought another goal but the surprise of it must have put Liam off! Coops then had to be replaced with Lansy to partner Danny with Rory returning to a wide position. There was still time for a fifth when a superb free-kick from Max on the left let Rory show his great heading ability by out jumping the defence to plant the ball in the roof of the net to give PB a 5-1 lead.

Overall a pleasing result and a superb second half showing that will need to be repeated in the last 3 games of the season to give PB a chance of winning the league.

MOM
Dale Andrews – never gave their danger man Quin a chance.

Pot Black 3 Lake Lothing 5

When the manager (daisy-wenger-edmunds) and the chairman (mick -abramovich-wall) had to go for a scouting visit at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, Madrid this weekend the players sadly went to rack and ruin!! Apparently, the story from vice-captain Max Wall was that the display was woeful! Finding his opinion somewhat distorted and taken into account he wasn't playing as he was being sick two hours before,( because of a couple of shandies) I decided to ring a few other players up and get their match report. Having spoke to Liam, Daaaaarrrren, Woody, my sister milly, the groundsman, a woman walking her dog, the dog, it was unanimous we were utter CRAP! I could say never mind! Forget it, There's plenty of more games left! But the point is if we don't get it right this week you can kiss goodbye to the entire season right now! The thing I don't understand is the comment that the players didn't look up for it! If a team can't get motivated when trying to win and cup and league double there's something seriously wrong with our playing personnel ! I hope the players are not getting to big for their boots because if you look at the games we've scrapped through by the skin of our teeth, if we don't play at least 90% capacity we won't win another game this season!!!! Our next game is Harrods, which we know will be another close match, so if anyone can't get themselves UP FOR IT please let us know as we can try someone else and will also save you an ear bashing of US!!!!!

So come -on lets get that PB spirit back and prove Lake Lothing and the others wrong and we

are a decent side........

Pot Black FC reach final of Sunday Senior Cup

Pot Black completed a great 2-1 win over a strong Whitton Maypole side at Leiston to reach the final of the Sunday Senior Cup and join a select group of sides from the Lowestoft Sunday League who have achieved this prestigious feat.

The pitch at Leiston was sandy and very bumpy which did not help Pot Blacks passing game. The game started evenly with both sides looking for the first goal of the game. Whitton were relying on playing a long ball from defence, which they did very effectively and were causing Pot Blacks defence some anxious moments. After 25 minutes they took the lead after a good shot from the edge of the box flew over the keepers head and into the lead, much to the delight of players and supporters. Pot Black then had the lion’s share of the game without creating too many chances and good defending by the Whitton defence. Liam Harvey had the best chance just before half-time to equalise but the keeper made a good save blocking his shot and the ball rebounding to safety.

So half time came with Pot Black losing 1-0 and a strong half-time pep talk needed. The second half started with Pot Black looking for that elusive goal and were pushing too many players forward which resulted in them getting caught on the break far too easily. Indeed at this time of the match Richard Reeder in goal kept Pot Black in the match with a string of fine saves. Pot Black fought there way back into the game but still did not threaten the Whitton goal with any purpose. But they should have equalised when the ball rebounded of the keeper to the edge of the box where Michael Hodgson bravely dived to header the ball only to see it go past the post. With time ticking away, Adam Sivell came on to steady the midfield and show composure on the ball, which had been missing before. Pot Black were now looking for that goal and put Kev Sherwood on, enabling Max Blowers to move upfront. The last change came with Anthony Ogogo coming on to use his pace down the flanks. With Pot Black pressing for that equaliser, it was one way traffic now and with 15 minutes to go with the ball bouncing about in the penalty area and eventually coming out to Kieron who placed the ball into the top corner of the net. It was now the turn of PB players and supporters to celebrate. Pot Black was now looking to finish the game before the dreaded extra-time and perhaps penalties. From a corner of the left Adam Sivell rose to meet the ball only to see it fly over the bar. But with 5 minutes to go the goal come after good work by Anthony Ogogo on the left and putting a good ball into the box which Rory French meet before the oncoming keeper to lob the ball over his head and into the goal which sent the players and supporters delirious. The next 5 minutes seemed like the longest ever but eventually the referee blew for full time and then the celebrations started.

Not a vintage display by PB but one full of commitment to get the result that mattered and all players and supporters can now look forward to the final on April 26 against Wortham Dolphin United at a neutral ground.