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
